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

Abstract 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 O 1 approximant phase have been defined. The other films were made of two phase particles, i.e. O 1 grains mixed with pure cubic aluminium grains. Optical reflectance of the O 1 film over the infrared and visible wavelength domains is presented.