Surface and electron microscopic analysis of Ni–Cr alloy films deposited from a single source

Three compositions of Ni–Cr (75% Ni–25% Cr, 50% Ni–50% Cr and 25% Ni–75% Cr by weight) alloy evaporation sources were synthesized using electrodischarge compaction.1 Thin films of Ni–Cr of about 700‐A thick were deposited on silicon substrates for surface studies and on carbon coated Formvar grids for structural observations. The surface and interface properties of the films were studied by depth profiling using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and the structural properties were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM results indicated that about 25% Cr in the alloy films was enough to stabilize a majority Cr phase and the structure was found to be that of a body‐centered‐cubic alloy.