Epitaxial electrodeposition of lead telluride films on indium phosphide single crystals

Epitaxial PbTe films were electrodeposited on (1 1 1) InP single crystals, from solutions containing Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions, the latter being largely in excess. High energy electron diffraction and X-ray diffraction reveal the formation of epitaxial films accompanied by the presence of polycrystalline PbTe. The poor epitaxy is related to a large lattice mismatch with the InP substrate. A low density of planar defects, compared with II–VI chalcogenides, is observed.