High performance La1-xAlxF3 nanocomposite coatings prepared by a co-evaporation technique.

La_1-xAl_xF₃ nanocomposite coatings with various amounts of AlF₃ in LaF₃ were deposited on the fused silica substrate using double-source electron beam co-evaporation. The effects of the material composition on the chemical composition, optical properties, microstructure properties, and residual stress of these deposited coatings were investigated. The results showed that although the doping of AlF₃ led to a reduction in the refractive index, the …