Abstract: A method is provided for growing highly oriented compound thin films on a substrate by subjecting the substrate to the vapor of a first single element which can react with the surface at a temperature sufficiently high for the reaction to occur which forms a single atomic layer of the first single element on the surface and then subjecting the thus formed surface with a first single element atomic layer thereon to the vapor of a second single element which can react with the first single element at a temperature sufficiently high for the reaction to occur so that a single atomic layer of the second single element is formed on the surface bound to the first single element. This procedure can then be repeated alternately subjecting the surface to the vapors of the first single element then to the second single element, etc. until the compound film reaches a desired thickness.