Effect of annealing time on morphological characteristics of Ba(Zr,Ti)O-3 thin films

Ba(Zr0.50Ti0.50)O-3 thin films were prepared by the polymeric precursor method using the annealing low temperature of 300 degrees C for 8, 16, 24, 48, 96 and 192 It in a furnace tube with oxygen atmosphere. The X-ray diffraction patterns revealed that the film annealed for 192 h presented some crystallographic planes (1 0 0), (1 1 0) and (2 0 0) in its crystalline lattice. Fourier transformed infrared presented the formation of metal-oxygen stretching at around 756 cm(-1). The atomic force microscopy analysis presented the growth of granules in the Ba(Zr0.50Ti0.50)O-3 films annealed from 8 to 96 h. The crystalline film annealed for 192 h already presents grains in its perovskite structure. It evidenced a reduction in the thickness of the thin films with the increase of the annealing time. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Theoretical and experimental study of disordered Ba0.45Sr0.55TiO3 photoluminescence at room temperature

Disordered and crystalline Ba0.45Sr0.55TiO3 (BST) powder processed at low temperature was synthesized by the polymeric precursor method. The single-phase perovskite structure of the ceramics was identified by the Raman and X-ray diffraction techniques. Photoluminescence at room temperature was observed only in a disordered BST sample. Increasing the calcination time intensified the photoluminescence (PL), which reached its maximum value in the sample heat treated at 300 degrees C for 30 h. This emission may be correlated with the structural disorder. Periodic ab initio quantum-mechanical calculations using the CRYSTAL98 program can yield important information regarding the electronic and structural properties of crystalline and disordered solids. The experimental and theoretical results indicate the presence of intermediary energy levels in the band gap. This is ascribed to the break in symmetry, which is responsible for visible photoluminescence in the material's disordered state at room temperature. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of oxygen flow on crystallization and morphology of PLZT thin films

PLZT thin films were prepared by a dip coating process using Pechini's method, also known as polymeric precursor method. The PLZT solution was obtained from a mixture of the individual cation solutions and the process to prepare each solution is based on metallic citrate polymerization. The viscosity of the PLZT solution was adjusted at 40 cP while the ionic concentration was adjusted at 0.1 M. PLZT solutions were deposited on silicon (100) and platinum coated silicon (100) substrates with withdrawal speed at 5 mm/min. The coated substrates were thermally treated with a heating rate of 1 degreesC/min up to 300 degreesC and 5 degreesC/min up to 650 degreesC in order to obtain homogeneous and cracks free films. The influence of oxygen flow on crystallization and morphology of PLZT (9/65/35) thin film is discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd and Techna S.r.l. All rights reserved.

Influence of thickness on crystallization and properties of LiNbO3 thin films

Thin films of lithium niobate were deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO2 (111) substrates by spin coating from the polymeric precursor method (Pechini process). Annealing in static air was performed at 500 degreesC for 3 h. The obtained films were characterized by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. The dielectric constant, dissipation factor and resistance were measured in frequency region from 10 Hz to 10 MHz and the hysteresis loop was obtained. The influence of number of layers on crystallization, morphology and properties of LiNbO3 thin films is discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Domestic microwave oven adapted for fast heat treatment of Ba0.5Sr0.5(Ti0.8Sn0.2)O-3 powders

In this work, BSTSn powders prepared by the polymeric precursor method were heat treated in a domestic microwave oven (MW) using a SiC susceptor to absorb the microwave energy and transfer the heat to the powder. The main advantage of MW is to reduce the thermal treatment time for phase crystallization. The powders were heat treated at 300 degrees C for 20 h in conventional oven, 300 degrees C for 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min in MW and at 500 degrees C for 1 min in MW. After thermal treatment, the photoluminescent properties of powders at room temperature were analyzed. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Understanding the origin of photoluminescence in disordered Ca0.60Sr0.40WO4: An experimental and first-principles study

Visible photoluminescence (PL) was observed for the first time at room temperature in structurally disordered calcium strontium tungstate powder, Ca0.60Sr0.40WO4 (CSW), obtained by the polymeric precursor method. The PL behavior of CSW powders has been analyzed as a function of the disorder rate, based on experimental and theoretical studies. Quantum mechanical theory based on density functional theory at the B3LYP level has been employed to study the electronic structure of two periodic models representing both crystalline and disordered powders. Their electronic structures have been analyzed in terms of density of states, band dispersion and charge densities. The calculations indicate a break in symmetry when passing from crystalline to disordered models, creating localized electronic levels above the valence band. Moreover, a negative charge transfer process takes place from the [WO3] cluster to the [WO4] cluster. The polarization induced by the break in symmetry and the existence of localized levels favors the creation of trapped holes and electrons, originating the PL phenomenon. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Combined experimental and theoretical investigations of the photoluminescent behavior of Ba(Ti,Zr)O-3 thin films

The correlation between experimental data and theoretical calculations have been investigated to explain the photoluminescence at room temperature of Ba(Ti0.75Zr0.25)O-3 (BTZ) thin films prepared by the polymeric precursor method. The degree of structural order-disorder was investigated by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. First-principles quantum mechanical calculations based on density functional theory (B3LYP level) were employed to study the electronic structure of ordered and deformed asymmetric models. The electronic properties are analyzed and the relevance of the present theoretical and experimental results on the PL behavior is discussed. The presence of localized electronic levels and a charge gradient in the band gap due to a break in symmetry, are responsible for the PL in disordered BTZ lattice. (c) 2007 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of oxygen atmosphere on crystallization and properties of LiNbO3 thin films

Thin films of lithium niobate were deposited on the Pt/Ti/SiO2 (111) substrates by spin coating from the polymeric precursor method (Pechini process). Annealing in static air and oxygen atmosphere was performed at 500 degreesC for 3 h. The films obtained were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The dielectric constant and dissipation factor were measured in frequency region from 10 Hz to 10 MHz. Electrical characterization of the films pointed to ferroelectricity via hysteresis loop. The influence of oxygen atmosphere on crystallization, morphology and properties of LiNbO3 thin films is discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ferroelectric and dielectric properties of vanadium-doped Ba(Ti0.90Zr0.10)O-3 ceramics

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Dependence of annealing time on structural and morphological properties of Ca(Zr0.05Ti0.95)O-3 thin films

Ca(Zr0.05Ti0.95)O-3 (CZT) thin films were prepared by the polymeric precursor method by spin-coating process. The films were deposited on Pt(1 1 1)/Ti/SiO2/Si(1 0 0) substrates and annealed at 650 degrees C for 2,4, and 6 It in oxygen atmosphere. Structure and morphology of the CZT thin films were characterized by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM). XRD revealed that the film is free of secondary phases and crystallizes in the orthorhombic structure. The annealing time influences the grain size, lattices parameter and in the film thickness. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Size effects of polycrystalline lanthanum modified Bi4Ti3O12 thin films

The film thickness dependence on the ferroelectric properties of lanthanum modified bismuth titanate Bi3.25La0.75Ti3O12 was investigated. Films with thicknesses ranging from 230 to 404 nut were grown on platinum-coated silicon substrates by the polymeric precursor method. The internal strain is strongly influenced by the film thickness. The morphology of the film changes as the number of layers increases indicating a thickness dependent grain size. The leakage current, remanent polarization and drive voltage were also affected by the film thickness. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of microwave energy on structural and photoluminescent behavior of CaTiO3 powders

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The role of the Eu3+ ions in structure and photoluminescence properties of SrBi2Nb2O9 powders

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

On the photoluminescence behavior of samarium-doped strontium titanate nanostructures under UV light. A structural and electronic understanding

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effect of oxidizing atmosphere on ferroelectric and piezoelectric response of CaBi2Nb2O9 thin films

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)