Formation Conditions and Structure of Thin Epitaxial Silver Films on Rocksalt

Abstract

A comprehensive experimental investigation of the effects of formation conditions on the structural characteristics of thin, single‐crystal Ag films vapor deposited onto synthetic NaCl single crystals is reported. Formation conditions studied include: preannealing heat treatment of the substrate, postheat treatment of film and substrate, substrate temperature during deposition, and the rate of deposition. It is shown that an epitaxial temperature as such does not exist, and that the minimum deposition temperature for the formation of single‐crystal films is rate dependent. Crystalline structure, porosity, and stacking fault density of the films are related to the rate of deposition, deposition temperature, and thickness.