Cathodic deposition of ternary In+As+Sb alloys and formation of InAsxSb1-x

In + As + Sb alloys have been deposited onto Ni and Ti cathodes from tartaric acid solutions at pH 2. Homogeneous deposits of composition suitable for achieving InAsxSb1-x can be obtained from this medium. The As-to-Sb ratio can be controlled by properly selecting solution composition and deposition potential. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses show that formation of III-V compounds occurs at room temperature. In reacts preferentially with As rather than with Sb, but crystalline phases formed at room temperature are Sb-rich. After annealing the In + As + Sb alloys at 250 degrees C, the composition calculated from cell parameters appears similar to that measured by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, suggesting that the entire deposit has been converted into the InAsxSb1-x crystalline phase.