Microstructure of pulsed laser deposited ceramic–metal and polymer–metal nanocomposite thin films

Ceramic–metal (MgO combined with Fe, Ti and Ni80Nb20) and polymer–metal (polycarbonate combined with Ag and Pd) nanocomposite multilayers were deposited at room temperature by laser ablation (at 248 nm). The multilayers were characterized by X-ray reflectometry, infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In the case of MgO/metal multilayers, well-layered structures are produced down to layer periodicities of 1.2 nm, necessary for tunneling magnetoresistance devices and X-ray mirrors in the ‘water window’. The interface roughness in the case of polymer/metal multilayers is found to be a strong function of the metal layer thickness and also the nature of the metal.