AbstractPb(ZrxTi1−x)O3(PZT) thin films have excellent ferroelectric, optical, piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties. We prepared PZT thin films using the excimer laser ablation technique. A pulsed KrF excimer laser was used to ablate PZT bulk targets. We have studied optimum preparation conditions such as an oxygen pressure, a laser energy fluence and a substrate temperature.In this paper, we investigated the composition, crystallization and ferroelectric properties of the PZT films prepared under various deposition conditions.The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed that the PZT films prepared on MgO(100) substrates at 600°C and with a laser fluence of 2J/cm2 had a perovskite - pyrochlore mixed structure. The condition of 100 mTorr oxygen pressure provided high quality perovskite films. It is found that the stoichiometric composition of the deposited films is obtained in ambient oxygen of 100˜400 mTorr. The ferroelectric properties of the Pt/PZT/Pt/MgO structure were studied. The capacitance-voltage characteristics and the corresponding hysteresis loop of the dielectric-electric field curve were discussed.We also studied optical emission of the PZT plasma plume to understand quantitative relation between the PZT film quality and the ablation plume plasma. We identified spectral lines originated in Pb, Pb+, Zr, Zr+, Ti, Ti+, PbO and TiO. These spectral intensities have remarkable dependence on the ambient O2 pressure.
Preparation of Thin Films of Functional Materials by an Excimer Laser Ablation Technique.
