FERROELECTRICS LETTERS SECTION, cilt.28, ss.75-84, 2001 (SCI-Expanded)
Homogeneous KTN (Potassium Tantalate Niobate) solutions were prepared using potassium acetate and metal alkoxides in 2-methoxyethanol by controlled hydrolysis with 1:2 (KTN/H2O) molar ratio. We report on the synthesis of sol-gel KTN for both the fabrication of homogeneous, dense and stoichiometrically correct ceramic discs by hot isostatic pressing and the deposition of spin-on as well as sputtered thin films. The spin-on KTN films on Pt/Si or r-sapphire were polycrystalline and stoichiometric, however, sputtered films on sapphire were fully (100) oriented and polycrystalline on Pt/SiO2/Si substrates with some potassium deficiency. The refractive indices of sputtered, dense KTN films on sapphire were between 2.00 and 2.05.