Thin films of (Sr, Ba)Nb2O6 (SBN) were prepared on SrTiO3 (100) substrates
by a pulsed laser deposition and their crystallographic properties were inv
estigated. Epitaxially grown films with the c-axis perpendicular to the sub
strate were obtained at substrate temperatures higher than 650 degrees C in
an oxygen atmosphere (containing 8% O-3) of 3 mTorr. An X-ray phi scan ana
lysis indicates that the films have antiphase domains in the c-plane and th
e relationship is SBN[100]//SrTiO3[310]. The lattice mismatch between the f
ilm and the substrate is less than 1%, which contributes to the desirable c
rystalline quality of SBN films. A smooth surface of roughness Rms = 0.8 nm
was obtained by controlling the morphology of the initial growth layer in
a two-step deposition.