Copper-oxide thin films prepared from Langmuir-Blodgett films

Ultrathin films of CuO have been prepared using an organic precursor (Langm uir-Blodgett multilayer films consisting of Cu-arachidate). The organic com ponent was removed either by thermodesorption or by UV-desorption. In the f ormer case discontinuous films consisting of an ensemble of droplets were o btained. UV-desorption with successive heating results in continuous and ra ther smooth films. A surface roughness of 2.3 nm was deduced for one of the se films from an atomic-force-microscope analysis. The films are transparen t in the visible range. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.