New Electronic Materials

The work on the synthesis of metal oxide and sulfide thin films was started. This program centered around the development of new methods for the preparation and characterization of oxide and sulfide thin films, as well as the investigation of materials which transmit in the far infrared. An effort was also started on the preparation of diamond films because of its potential as a material for infrared transmission. All of the materials prepared were characterized as to their electronic and optical properties, stability toward decomposition and hardness. Several special transparent gold furnaces were designed and built so the entire growth process could be seen.