Effects of acetoin as chelating agent on the preparation of SrBi2Ta2O9 thin films from non-hydrolyzing precursors

• Published in: Journal of sol-gel science and technology 2008-12, Vol.48 (3), p.294-302
• Main Authors: Machado, R., Santiago, M. L., Stachiotti, M. G., Frattini, A., Pellegri, N., Bolmaro, R., de Sanctis, O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkanolamines; Bismuth; Ceramics; Chelating agents; Chelation; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Colloidal gels. Colloidal sols; Colloidal state and disperse state; Composites; Crystal structure; Crystallization; Dielectric properties; Exact sciences and technology; Ferroelectric materials; Ferroelectricity; General and physical chemistry; Glass; Grain size distribution; Inorganic Chemistry; Investigations; Materials Science; Microstructure; Nanotechnology; Natural Materials; Optical and Electronic Materials; Organic chemistry; Organic compounds; Original Paper; Precursors; Strontium; Tantalum; Thermal evolution; Thin films
• ISSN: 0928-0707; 1573-4846
• DOI: 10.1007/s10971-008-1812-2

Ferroelectric thin films of strontium bismuth tantalate (SBT) have been fabricated by a chemical solution deposition technique using non-hydrolyzing precursors. Strontium acetate, bismuth nitrate and tantalum ethoxide were used as precursor materials, with methanol and glacial acetic as solvents. We investigate the effects of the precursor chemistry, by the selection of the chelating agent, on the elimination of residual organic compounds, thermal evolution of phase formation, and microstructure evolution of derived films. We found that the utilization of alkanolamines as chelating agent produce the segregation of metallic bismuth in as-prepared powders. On the other hand, acetoin, one of the hydroxyketones, showed the elimination of residual organics at low temperature, an earlier onset of crystallization, and no segregation of secondary phases during the whole crystallization process. A comparative investigation of the surface microstructure, grain size distribution, crystallinity, and degree of crystal orientation of films fabricated with the different chelating agents is presented. The dielectric and ferroelectric properties of films prepared with acetoin are investigated.