The influence of Pt and SrTiO3interlayers on the microstructure of PbTiO3thin films deposited by laser ablation on (001) MgO

Abstract

We have used conventional and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy to investigate the microstruture of epitaxial, ferroelectric PbTiO3films grown by pulsed laser ablation on (001) MgO single crystals, and on MgO covered with epitaxial Pt or SrTiO3. Pronounced variations are found in the widths and lengths ofa-axis-oriented domains in these films, although the volume fraction ofa-axis-oriented material varies only weakly for the different types of samples. In addition, the films deposited onto Pt-coated MgO have a larger grain size than those deposited onto bare MgO or SrTiO3/MgO. Possible reasons for the variations in the distribution ofa-axis-oriented material in these samples include differences in the elastic properties and electrical conductivities of the different substrate combinations.