PULSED-LASER DEPOSITION OF CORROSION-RESISTANT IRON THIN-FILMS

Dense iron thin films with no distinct columnar structure were pulsed laser deposited on Si(100) and quartz, using an ArF laser or a Nd:YAG laser (1.064 mu m and 532 nm). The deposited films showed no signs of corrosion after exposure to air or immersion in NaCl aqueous solution for many days. The size and density of droplets present in the films d ecreased with decreasing laser wavelength. Magnetic field application exacerbated the droplet problem.