Synthesis and structural characterization of BNT–BT based ferroelectric thin films

Abstract

Lead-free Bi_0.506Na_0.46Ba_0.08–3x/2La_xTiO₃ thin-films, with x = 0, 0.01, 0.02 and 0.03, have been synthesized via Sol-Gel process and the spin-coating technique. High quality thin-films have been obtained, revealing the formation of the perovskite structure with the minor Bi₂Ti₂O₇ pyrochlore phase. A shift of the reflection in the 2θ range of 31–34^° has been observed with the increase of the lanthanum dopant, suggesting the selective substitution of La³⁺ ions at the A-site of the BNT-BT perovskite structure.

KEYWORDS:

• Lead-free thin films
• sol-gel synthesis
• structural properties

Funding

The authors would like to thank CNPq, CAPES and FAPEMIG Brazilian agencies for financial support and the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste-Italy, for financial support of Latin-American Network of Ferroelectric Materials (NET-43, currently NT-02). MSc. Mendez-Gonz alez acknowledges the partial financial support by the ICTP-CLAF agreement AF-13. AFM Shimadzu at the Institute of Physics (INFIS) supported by the grant “Pró-Equipamentos” from CAPES Brazilian Agency is also acknowledged.