MICROSTRUCTURE, ORIENTATION, AND PROPERTIES OF SOL-GEL-DERIVED KTIOPO4 THIN-FILMS

Dense and crack-free thin films of potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) w ere synthesized using a sol-gel process. The decomposition of the orga nic precursors and the formation of the KTP were studied using thermal analysis, DRIFT, and XRD. Several processing parameters such as the n ature of the precursors, the aging of the alkoxide solution, the firin g atmosphere, time, and temperature were found to affect the final fil m microstructure. Thin films were deposited on single-crystal KTP, LaC aO3, MgO, and sapphire substrates to promote crystallographic orientat ion, SEM and XRD studies reveal that films deposited on KTP and LaCaO, single crystals are highly oriented. The films deposited on MgO or sa pphire were found to detach or chemically degrade. The orientation as well as the degradation mechanisms were examined in detail.