Preparation and Microstructure of Nanocrystalline Grain Ag-MgF₂ Cermet Film

Nanocrystalline grain Ag-MgF₂ cermet films were prepared by using sintered-in-vacuum Ag-MgF₂ mixture granules as evaporant. The microstructure and the electronic energy states of the films were examined by x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that obtained Ag-MgF₂ cermet films consist of mainly amorphous MgF₂ matrix with embedded fcc-Ag nanocrystalline grains. The principal x-ray diffraction peaks at d = 3.4245, 2.6102, and 2.0503Ǻ are probably related to Ag-MgF₂ cermet composite structure.