In PbSe epitaxial thin films grown by thermal evaporation on KCl(001) substrates and covered with an EuS protective layer, oscillatory dependences of the galvanomagnetic and thermoelectric properties (electrical conductivity σ, the Hall coefficient RH, charge carrier mobility μ, and the Seebeck coefficient S) on the PbSe layer thickness d (3<d<200 nm) were observed at room temperature. Oscillations of the transport properties are associated with quantum size effects due to electron confinement in the PbSe quantum wells.

The effect of oxidation at room temperature on the thermoelectric properties of PbSe/KCl (001) thin films prepared by thermal evaporation was investigated. The dependences of the electrical conductivity, the Hall coefficient, charge carrier mobility, and thermopower on the PbSe layer thickness (d ϭ 4-200 nm) were obtained. An inversion of the sign of the dominant carriers from n to p at d ϳ 80 nm was observed under decreasing d. The d dependences of the thermoelectric properties were interpreted, taking into consideration the oxidation processes at the film/air interface within the framework of models considering both n-type and p-type carriers.

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