Evaluation of the optical properties of molybdenum particles in metal/ceramic composites

The optical constants of thin molybdenum layers and molybdenum/tin oxide cermets, produced by a batch sputtering deposition system, were determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry. The geometrical structure of the layers and the embedded particles was analysed with an atomic force microscope. The results were used for the investigation of a suitable effective medium theory to describe the optical constants of cermets with relatively high filling factors.