In this paper, we report on the preparation of lead zirconate films for the first time using atomic layer deposition in an attempt to investigate some of the film properties and also to evaluate possible use of the precursor combination to prepare more complex lead titanate zirconate. In the depositions tetraphenyl lead (Ph4Pb) was used as the lead and zirconium 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptadionato (Zr(thd)(4)) as the zirconium precursor, while ozone was used as the oxygen source. Film growth, stoichiometry and quality were studied using different pulsing ratios at deposition temperatures of 275 and 300 degrees C. According to X-ray diffraction, the crystalline perovskite phase was observed when films deposited on SrTiO3(1 0 0) were annealed at 600 degrees C. Surface roughness was reduced for lead deficient films as well as in annealed samples. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.