The role of PbTiO3 layers in piezoelectric multilayer composite films based on Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3

• Published in: Thin solid films 2017-08, Vol.636, p.730-736
• Main Authors: El Hosiny Ali, H., Jiménez, R., Ramos, P., Pérez de la Cruz, J., Fernandes, J.R.A., Bretos, I., Calzada, M.L., Ricote, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical solution deposition; Ferroelectric; Perovskite; Piezoelectric; Relaxor-ferroelectric
• ISSN: 0040-6090; 1879-2731
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2017.07.011

The sharp decrease of the remnant ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PMNT) thin films close to the Morphotropic Phase Boundary (MPB) respect to their corresponding bulk ceramics is a major drawback for their integration in microdevices. In order to take full advantage of the excellent piezoelectric properties of polycrystalline PMNT in thin film form, a multilayer configuration with PbTiO3 (PT) layers is proposed. The PT layers generate an internal electric bias within the PMNT layer, which anchor an induced polarization in it. This results in a significant improvement of the piezoelectric behavior, obtaining remnant piezoelectric coefficients, d33 r, as high as 67pmV−1. The role of the thickness of the PT layers used is discussed, in order to find the optimum configuration for these multilayers. •The role of the ferroelectric layer thickness in a multilayer film is determined.•Relaxor-based multilayers remanence is improved the thicker the ferroelectric layer.•The increase of coercitivity with thickness is identified as a limiting factor.