Structure and optical properties of ZnSe/SiO$_2$ layered nanocomposites

Structure and optical properties of ZnSe/SiO$_2$ layered nanocomposites obtained using microwave magnetron sputtering have been studied. The nanocomposites are X-ray amorphous at relatively small thicknesses of the zinc selenide layers. When the thickness of the zinc selenide layers exceeds 20 $\mathring{\mathrm{A}}$, ZnSe/SiO$_2$ films contain SiO$_2$ amorphous phase and zinc selenide cubic nanocrystallites. It has been demonstrated that the thickness of zinc selenide layers affects the microstresses, refractive index, and band gap.