Hot pressing sintered CuxMo6S8 targets for laser ablation thin films deposition

Sintering conditions of Cu4Mo6S8 pellets, 20 mm in diameter and about 4 mm thick have been determined. The expulsion of copper out of the pellet for a n annealing temperature of 1100 degrees C has been observed, in agreement w ith the evolution of the phase diagram when the temperature increases. The appearance of Cu2S cristallites on the surface of the films deposited from highly densified targets associated with a high excess of copper and sulfur can be correlated with the behavior observed on the pellets. In fact the i ncrease of the temperature of the target under the laser beam impact is lik ely responsible for a. copper migration on its surface, which leads to the observed composition of the film.