Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 February 2011
Ferroelectric thin films including undoped and doped PZT (lead zirconate titanate), BaTiO3 (barium titanate), SBN (strontium barium niobate), KNbO3 (potassium niobate), PBN (lead barium niobate), KNSBN (potassium sodium strontium barium niobate), and LiNbO3 (lithium niobate) were made on silicon and fused silica substrates by a sol-gel process. Microstructure and physical (pyroelectric, ferroelectric and optical) properties of these thin films were studied. Transparent and preferentially orientated SBN thin films on fused silica substrates can be obtained by applying a d.c. electric field during heat treatment. A heterojunction effect was observed in ferroelectric thin films on both n-silicon and p-silicon through measurement of I-V characteristics, and by the demonstration of a photocurrent effect.