Issue 21, 2013

Microstructural investigations and nanoscale ferroelectric properties in lead-free Nd2Ti2O7 thin films grown on SrTiO3 substrates by pulsed laser deposition

Abstract

The growth conditions required to obtain high-quality layered-perovskite Nd2Ti2O7 thin films with a monoclinic structure on both (100)- and (110)-oriented SrTiO3 substrates by pulsed laser deposition are investigated. To synthesize the expected ferroelectric crystalline phase (and optimize the crystallization), two major critical parameters have to be carefully controlled, i.e. the oxygen pressure during deposition and the substrate temperature. Combining X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy for structural characterizations, a twinned structure with (00l) orientation is evidenced for the films grown on (110)-oriented SrTiO3 while a twinned structure with a (012) orientation slightly tilted from 3.6° with respect to the substrate plane is revealed in the case of (100)-oriented SrTiO3. For growth performed at very low pressure, NdTiO3+δ thin films are obtained while polymorphic non-ferroelectric Nd2Ti2O7 samples with an orthorhombic structure are found at higher pressures. Piezoresponse force microscopy experiments evidence nanoscale ferroelectricity in the layered-perovskite monoclinic Nd2Ti2O7 films deposited on both substrates. Domain switching properties are shown to be more reliable for films grown onto (110)-SrTiO3 substrates, demonstrating these are more suitable as a functional material for applications in the field of micro-/nano-electronics. On the other hand, no ferroelectricity is probed in the polymorphic Nd2Ti2O7 thin films, as expected in a centro-symmetric structure.

Graphical abstract: Microstructural investigations and nanoscale ferroelectric properties in lead-free Nd2Ti2O7 thin films grown on SrTiO3 substrates by pulsed laser deposition

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
06 Feb 2013
Accepted
20 Mar 2013
First published
20 Mar 2013

CrystEngComm, 2013,15, 4341-4350

Microstructural investigations and nanoscale ferroelectric properties in lead-free Nd2Ti2O7 thin films grown on SrTiO3 substrates by pulsed laser deposition

A. Bayart, S. Saitzek, M. Chambrier, Z. Shao, A. Ferri, M. Huvé, R. Pouhet, A. Tebano, P. Roussel and R. Desfeux, CrystEngComm, 2013, 15, 4341 DOI: 10.1039/C3CE40256H

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements