AbstractHigh-quality La-modified PbTiO3 (Pb1−xLaxTi1−x/4O3; PLT) thin films were prepared by an rf-magnetron sputtering method. In this method, intermittent deposition was realized by periodical repetition of deposition and nondeposition processes. This deposition was found to enhance the horizontal grain growth of the films. The PLT thin films exhibit the phenomena named “self-polarization” and have high pyroelectric properties (pyroelectric coefficient γ of 5.0×10−8C/cm2K and low dielectric constant εr of 185) without a poling treatment. It was interestingly found that this self-polarization of the PLT thin films depends on the substrate temperature (Ts) and is based on a fairly small difference of the film composition (Pb/Ti). The pyroelectric properties were improved by means of addition of Mg to the PLT thin films. These thin films are expected to offer suitable materials for pyroelectric infrared (IR) sensors. High sensitive pyroelectric IR sensors (single element type and linear array type) were fabricated by using the PLT (x=0. 1) thin films with the new structures and the device processes. The sensors have remarkably high specific detectivity D* of 3.5×108 cm. Hz1/2/W and very fast response. A new compact IR sensing system using the linear array sensor (8 elements) has been developed for a new type of room air-conditioner.
Pyroelectric Properties of c-Axis Oriented [(1-x)PbTiO3+xMgO] Thin Films Prepared by rf-Magnetron Sputtering Method