Advances in the Growth of SrS Thin Films by Pulsed Laser Deposition

High quality luminescent thin films of strontium sulfide (SrS) doped with rare earths have been grown using Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD). SrS films ranging in thicknesses from 0.05 to 2 µm. were deposited on MgO (001) and glass substrates. Deposition parameters such as growth temperature and H2S background gas pressure were varied and their effect on the structure, morphology and luminescence of the films was evaluated. The PLD grown films all showed texture and were highly oriented when deposited on MgO substrates as determined by their XRD spectra. Optical microscopy, SEM and AFM analysis were used to study the films’ surface morphology. The thermally and optically stimulated luminescence properties of these films were evaluated as well. The data indicates that these materials may be useful for optical data storage applications.