Structural and thermoelectric properties of pulsed laser deposited PbTe thin films

PbTe thin films were prepared by pulsed laser deposition from a Nd:YAG laser (532 nm). The films were deposited onto glass substrates. Influence of deposition temperature (80-160/spl deg/C), fluence (5-13 J/cm/sup 2/) and nominal composition of the target on the chemical composition of the films was studied. It is found that the tellurium content of the film is strongly dependent on both the laser fluence and the deposition temperature. Highly textured stoichiometric films can be obtained under suitable conditions. Preliminary transport property measurements were performed on a 200 nm thick PbTe film.