Characterization of the inverted tetrahedral twin particles in the heteroepitaxial KNbO3 thin films
Perovskite potassium niobate (KNbO3) possesses good electrooptic properties for modulated channel waveguide applications, Epitaxial KNbO3 thin films were deposited onto (100) MgO substrates using an ion beam sputtering technique equipped with a novel computer-controlled rotating target holder , Conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were employed to perform defect structure and microstructure analysis. Special TEM sample preparation procedures have been developed, which will be reported elsewhere, Tetrahedral twin particles (TTP's) were observed in the epitaxial KNbO3 thin films. Since, the orientation difference between the TTP's and the matrix may affect the polarization switching properties, it is essential to understand their origin and eliminate them if possible.A selected area diffraction pattern of a KNbO3 thin film taken along the substrate (012) (figure 1) reveals twin and double diffraction spots. The mirror planes are determined to be of the {211} family. Figure 2(a) shows the electron diffraction pattern taken along the substrate (100). Twin spots coincide with some of the matrix spots indicating that the twin also maintains an epitaxial relationship with the MgO substrate. The orientation relationship between the twins and the matrix is [221]twin//[100]matrix.