Growth of Sr_xBa_1-xNb₂O₆ and Ca-doped Sr_xBa_1-xNb₂O₆ thin films on MgO and Nb:SrTiO₃ substrates by PLD and RF-PLD technique

Full text: Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and radio-frequency assisted pulsed laser deposition (RF-PLD) have been used to growth highly textured ferroelectric SBN thin films with different Sr/Ba ratio, undoped and Ca-doped. Pure SBN and Ca-doped ceramic targets were first prepared by solid-state reaction method using pure reagent SrCO₃, BaCO₃, CaCO₃ and Nb2O₅ powders as starting materials. (001) MgO and Nb:SrTiO₃ have been used as substrates for films deposition. Morphological and structural properties characterization of SBN/SCBN layers were performed by Atomic Force Microscopy and X-ray diffraction while the optical properties (refractive index and extinction coefficient) were measured by spectroellipsometry. Studies on the influence of Ca dopant and of Sr/Ba ratio on ferroelectric characteristics were carried out. (author)