Tandem deposition of small metal particle composites

Abstract
A new method for preparing small metal particle composites (cermets) is described. It consists of many sequential depositions on a substrate of small amounts of a metal and an insulator from separate deposition sources. Under certain conditions, this method provides composites which, for metal volume fractions of less than about 0.5, consist of metal spheres with a very narrow size distribution embedded uniformly in the insulating matrix. In addition to the improved morphology of the composites, the new method also allows, for the first time, for control of metal particle size independent of metal volume fraction.