Thickness effect on the dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties of ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate thin films

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2010

Authors

J.P. de la Cruz (Author) FCUP; E. Joanni (Author) Other; P.M. Vilarinho (Author) FCUP; A.L. Kholkin (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Applied Physics

ISSN: 0021-8979

Publisher: American Institute of Physics

Indexing

ISI Web of Science

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Physical sciences

Other information

Abstract (EN): Lead zirconate titanate (PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3-PZT) thin films with different thicknesses were deposited on Pt(111)/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates by a sol-gel method. Single perovskite phase with (111)-texture was obtained in the thinnest films, whereas with the increase in thickness the films changed to a highly (100)-oriented state. An increase in the mean grain size as the film thickness increased was also observed. Dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties were analyzed as a function of the film thickness and explained based on film orientation, grain size, domain structure, domain wall motion, and nonswitching interface layers. Both serial and parallel capacitor models were used to analyze the influence of the nonswitching interface layer in the dielectric properties and the effect of substrate clamping in the microscopic piezoelectric response as the film thickness decreased. The scanning force microscopy technique was used to study the effect of thickness on the microscopic piezoresponse. Significant differences between the macroscopic and microscopic electrical properties of the films were observed. Those differences can be assigned to changes in the nonswitching film-electrode layer and domain structure. (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific