The textured PbTiO3-Al2O3 composite films prepared by the sol-gel method

The sol-gel method was used to prepare PbTiO3 (PT) and PbTiO3-Al2O3 (PT-AL) thin films on amorphous (SiO2 glass) and crystalline (111) Si, and (0001) Al2O3) substrates using the dip-coating technique. The films were examined by XRD methods to describe the phase composition, cell parameters and degre e of texture, by electron microprobe, AFM, SEM, EDAX and Rutherford backsca ttering to evaluate the microstructure and composition. PT-AL films are str essed, have grain size smaller than 0.1 mum and modified cell parameters of PT phase (lower cla tetragonality). In dependence on the molar ratio of Ti :Al, the different extent of crystallographic ordering was observed ranging from randomly oriented to strongly textured crystallites of PT. In the com positional range of Ti/Al 2 divided by4 the films show strong fibre texture with the a-axis (axis of texture) oriented perpendicular to the film plane . (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.