Synthesis, characterization and optical behaviour of vapour grown nano-crystalline Al-Cr-Fe-Mo thin films

Thermal evaporation process was employed in production of thin films of an Al-Cr-Fe-Mo alloy. Microstructural and chemical features were respectively evaluated by grazing X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and sputtered neutral mass spectroscopy. Solidification structures reveal a homogeneous nanosized (2-70 nm) granular morphology. Experimental synthesis parameters leading to films purely made of the known O1 approximant phase have been defined. The other films were made of two phase particles, i.e. O1 grains mixed with pure cubic aluminium grains. Optical reflectance of the O1 film over the infrared and visible wavelength domains is presented.