Cs–K–Te films have been fabricated under ultrahigh vacuum by vapor deposition of Te, K, and Cs onto a Mo substrate into the preparation chamber of the free electron laser of the University of Twente. Their photoemission properties are reported in this letter. The average quantum efficiency at 259 nm measured on 5 evaporated Cs–K–Te photocathodes is 22.5&percent;, whereas the best quantum efficiency obtained at 259 nm is 23.4&percent;. To our knowledge, this is the highest quantum efficiency at 259 nm reported so far, being about twice that of Cs2Te photocathodes. The reported results demonstrate that Cs–K–Te photocathodes are very promising for the use in photoinjectors. ©1997 American Institute of Physics.