PROCESSING OF HIGHLY ORIENTED LINBO3 FILMS FOR WAVE-GUIDES FROM AQUEOUS-SOLUTION

Stoichiometric and homogeneous LiNbO3 films were prepared by using a L i and Nb hydroxide aqueous coating solution from a double alkoxide, In this method, a double alkoxide precursor solution was hydrolyzed comp letely to form the gel, which was subjected to dissolution into water to form the aqueous coating solution, Processing with the aqueous coat ing solution was preferable in terms of much less carbonic residue in coated films than with the alkoxide ethanol solution, The coated films crystallized with high orientation by subsequent heat-treatment at te mperatures as low as 350 degrees C, Ti-doped (5 mol%) LiNbO3 homogeneo us films (Ti:LiNbO3) were also prepared.