Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
A mixed alkoxide liquid precursor was used to form epitaxial ferroelectric potassium niobate, KNbO3, thin films through the sol-gel technique by carefully designing the solution chemistry and reaction processes. The double alkoxide solution was prepared through hydrolysis and condensation reactions between different metal alkoxides in solution. Fabrication of heteroepitaxial single crystal thin films of KNbO3 deposited on single crystal substrates of MgO and SrTiO3 will be described. Film structure was investigated with X-ray and electron diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Second harmonic generation of 1064 nm incident light was demonstrated for KNbO3 thin films in a waveguide configuration. Transient photorefractive gratings in Fe-doped KNbO3 were studied by a two-beam coupling technique for various writing intensities and wavelengths.