Preparation and properties of vacuum deposited AgBr thin films

It is demonstrated that porous silver bromide films could be obtained via variation of one basic parameter of the PVD technique: the vapour incidence angle. This leads to the preparation of thin AgBr films with different surface-to-volume ratio. Relationship between the film microstructure and microhardness as well as dark ionic conductivity is found, thus revealing an opportunity for designing of novel AgBr thin film materials. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.