Liquid phase epitaxy of lattice-matched KTa 1−xNb xO 3 grown on KTaO 3 substrate

Abstract

Monocrystalline epitaxial layers of para- and ferroelectric KTa 1−xNb xO 3 (KTN) were grown from KFKTN solution on (100) cubic KTaO 3 by liquid phase epitaxy (LPE). Non-lattice-matched layers showed misfit relaxation defects at the substrate-layer interface produced by lattice relaxation. Misfit induced defects could be avoided by LPE of K 1−yNa yTa 1−xNb xO 3 (KNTN). X-ray analysis of pure and Na doped KTN layers confirmed a reduction of the lattice misfit by a factor of 4. The chemical composition of the main elements, the Na and F contents of the layers were determined by wavelength dispersive electron probe microanalysis (EPMA).