Synthesis and characterization of nanostructured LiNbO3 films with variation of stirring duration

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics 2017-08, Vol.28 (16), p.11813-11822
• Main Authors: Fakhri, Makram A., Salim, Evan T., Wahid, M. H. A., Hashim, U., Salim, Zaid T., Ismail, Raid A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atomic force microscopy; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Lithium niobates; Materials Science; Nanostructure; Optical and Electronic Materials; Optical properties; Optical waveguides; Optoelectronics; Photoluminescence; Raman spectroscopy; Scanning electron microscopy; Sol-gel processes; Spectrum analysis; Stirring; Substrates; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-017-6989-0

This paper focused on the effect of sol–gel stirring duration on the properties nanostructured lithium niobate ( LiNbO 3 ) films grown by sol–gel method. Nanostructured LiNbO 3 film was deposited on quartz substrate using sol–gel deposition technique. The precursor solution has been prepared with maximum stirrer times of 48 h. The structural, morphological and optical properties of grown films have been investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, optical study through Raman spectroscopy, UV–Visible and photoluminescence (PL). The measurements showed that the structure was crystalline in nature and the grains was distributed regularly within the film. This observation is typically used in optical waveguides and other optoelectronics applications. Raman spectroscopy proved a multi dominated Raman-active phonons with the main diffraction peaks corresponding to E(LO1), E(LO7), E(LO8), E(TO3) and E(TO4).