Synthesis and in-situ XPS study of U-Te thin films

Motivated by the discovery of unconventional superconductivity in the UTe2 single crystals, we have studied formation and properties of U-Te thin films. The films were synthesized by dc sputtering. Separate U and Te targets were used: Te was evaporated simultaneously with plasma sputtering of the U target. Thin films with the varied U:Te composition were obtained and studied in-situ by means of x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).