PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ZNXSR1-XS COMPOUND THIN-FILMS

ZnxSr1-xS thin films were prepared, for the first time, in the whole composition range by radio frequency (RF) sputtering as a thermally nonequilibrium deposition method. The possibility of existence of ZnxSr1-xS solid solutions was systematically investigated from the results of thin film growth, in terms of structural and optical characteristics. Despite a general idea of insolubility between ZnS and SrS compounds, it has been found that for 0.86-0.91 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 1 Zn-rich ZnxSr1-xS, solid solutions with a single-phased zincblende structure were formed and for 0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.29 Sr-rich ZnxSr1-xS, solid solutions with a single-phased rocksalt structure were formed. In the intermediate wide composition range 0.3 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.86-0.91, the miscibility gap including phase separation regions was observed. A deposition mechanism is proposed and the phase transition from rocksalt to zincblende structure is also discussed based on the fraction of ionic character f(i) for ZnS and SrS.