abstract
Low cost scalable processing and substrates are critical for optimized polar dielectric performance of functional oxide thin films if they are to achieve commercialization. Here, we present a comprehensive investigation of the role low-cost MgO, Al 2 O 3 , SrTiO 3 and Si substrates on the structural and electrical properties of sol-gel derived SrTiO 3 (ST) and K 0.5 Na 0.5 NbO 3 (KNN) thin films. The substrate is found to have a strong effect on the stress/stain state and, consequently, on the dielectric and ferroelectric response of the films. A tensile stress induced in-plane by the thermal expansion mismatch between the substrates and the films observed for ST and KNN films deposited on platinized Al 2 O 3 and Si substrates, respectively, lowers the relative permittivity and remanent polarization values in the parallel plate capacitor geometry. In contrast, a compressive stress/strain observed for ST films deposited on MgO/Pt and KNN films on SrTiO 3 /Pt substrates result in superior polarization and dielectric permittivity, corresponding to enhanced out-of-plane displacement of Ti 4+ ions in ST films and Nb 5+ ions in KNN films. It is thus demonstrated that for polycrystalline polar dielectric thin films the relative permittivity and polarization may be optimized through an induced compressive stress state.
authors
Tkach, A; Okhay, O; Santos, A; Zlotnik, S; Serrazina, R; Vilarinho, PM; Costa, ME
our authors
André Pereira dos Santos
Research Fellowship
Maria Elisabete Jorge Vieira Costa
Collaborator
Oleksandr Tkach
Assistant Researcher
Olena Okhay
Post-Doc Fellowship
Paula Maria Lousada Silveirinha Vilarinho
Vice Director
Ricardo Serrazina
PhD StudentOther
