Polycrystalline and amorphous thin films of Zn3P2 were deposited on Si
O2 and Al2O3 oriented crystal substrates by direct evaporation from a
quartz crucible at temperatures of 820-970 K. The thickness of the lay
ers varied from 0.16 to 3 mum. Structural studies by the X-ray diffrac
tion method indicated good quality of the samples. Transmission and re
flection measurements were carried out in the wide energy range 1-5 eV
. The absorption coefficient and reflectivity spectra, taking into acc
ount strong light interference, were calculated. In transmission measu
rements, optical transitions in the GAMMA points (1.5 eV) as well as i
n the L points (2.7 eV) of the Brillouin zone were observed; in reflec
tion measurements, transitions in the L and X (4.6 eV) points were obs
erved. The obtained optical spectra of thin films were compared with t
hose for monocrystals.