High resolution electron microscopy of composite films of gold and magnesium oxide

Composite films of gold and magnesium oxide are prepared by a simultaneous vacuum deposition technique. An important feature of the films is that gold is grown epitaxially and separately with the size of 1 to 3 nm inside (001) and (11̄0) magnesium oxide films about 20 nm in thickness. The structures of the composite films are studied by high resolution electron microscopy. The results suggest that the crystallites are embedded without strain in the matrix. The resistance property of the films is also measured by the four-probe method.