Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2011
Epitaxial thin films of three different Pt-Ga intermetallic compounds have been grown on GaAs by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The resultant films have been annealed at various temperatures and then examined using X-ray two-theta diffraction. Both PtGa2 and PtGa thin films are chemically stable on GaAs under 1 atmosphere of N2 up to 450°C and 600°C, respectively. Thin films of Pt2Ga react with GaAs at temperatures as low as 200°C to form phases with higher Ga concentration.