DEPOSITION OF AG0.5CU0.5INTE2 THIN-FILMS USING A STEPWISE EVAPORATIONMETHOD

Thin films of Ag(0.5)Cu(0.5)LnTe(2) are deposited on substrates held a t different temperatures using a stepwise evaporation process. The fil m growth was done by feeding pre-reacted Ag0.5Cu0.5InTe2 powder in sma ll steps (a few mg per step) to an unheated tungsten boat and then eva porating the material rapidly to completion. This process has been rep eated to get films of sufficient thickness. Structural characterizatio n using transmission electron microscopy has revealed that films depos ited at temperatures as low as 100 degrees C are polycrystalline and s ingle phase. Analysis of film composition using energy dispersive anal ysis of X-rays has shown that the films are nearly stoichiometric. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.