Structural evolution, dielectric and electro-optic properties of sol-gel derived potassium titanyl phosphate thin films

Transparent potassium titanyl phosphate (KTiOPO4) thin films were prepared by a sol-gel coating technique. The structural evolution of the KTP thin fi lms was examined by means of DTA/TGA, FT-IR, XRD and SEM. The effect of UV irradiation on the crystallization behavior was investigated and it was fou nd that the UV irradiation decreases the crystallization temperature of the KTP thin films and dried gels. The dielectric and electro-optic properties were evaluated. The dielectric measurement results show that the KTP thin films have a low dielectric constant of similar to 12 in the temperature ra nge of 25-100 degrees C and frequency range of 1-1000 kHz. The electro-opti c results indicate that the KTP thin films exhibit a quadratic electro-opti c effect and may have potential applications for electro-optic devices. (C) 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers.