CHARACTERIZATION OF STRONTIUM BARIUM NIOBATE FILMS PREPARED BY SOL-GEL PROCESS USING 2-METHOXYETHANOL

Strontium barium niobate (SBN) films with the composition of Sr0.6Ba0. 4Nb2O6 (SBN60) were prepared by the sol-gel technique and were spin-co ated on fused silica, (100)Si, (111)Si, and (100)MgO substrates. The s ol was formed by using 2-methoxyethanol as both the solvent and sol st abilizer. This has eliminated some major difficulties in the fabricati on of the SBN films using ethanol as solvent. Films annealed at the te mperature range from 500-800 degrees C were characterized by X-ray dif fraction, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. A high degree of crystallinity in tetragonal phase was obtained at an anneali ng temperature as low as 700 degrees C. Preferred (001) SBN60 orientat ion was observed for films coated on (100)MgO substrates. (C) 1997 Els evier Science S.A.