Optical Properties of Cold- and Hot-Deposited Gold Films

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Abstract
Gold films have been vacuum deposited onto quartz substrates in a temperature range from 5° to 750°C. Films which are deposited below about 50°C exhibit decreases in reflectivity of up to 25% over bulk values. Associated with this decrease are large increases in resistivity and near amorphous x‐ray diffraction patterns yielding particle sizes of less than 250 Å. Films deposited above 350°C exhibit a superficial matte appearance and reflectivities which decrease to lower values with increasing deposition temperature. Associated with the onset of the matte appearance and the decrease of the reflectivity (for hot deposition) is lamellar particle growth in the plane of the films which increases, both in extent and depth, with increasing deposition temperature. Bulk values of reflectivity and electrical resistivity are observed with deposition in the temperature range between 240° and 350°C. The decrease in reflectivity for cold deposited films is explained on the basis of the Maxwell Garnett—Gans theories.