Properties of undoped, copper-doped strontium-barium niobate thin films by sol-gel method

Transparent strontium-barium niobate (SBN) thin films, 0.3-1.0 pm, have been made by the solgel method. Alkoxide solutions were used as starting materials. Polycrystalline SBN thin films were grown on fused silica, single crystals silicon, and GaAs substrates after firing at 700°C. Dielectric, ferroelectric, and pyroelectric properties of SBN films were observed. Absorption spectra of SBN and SBN doped with 0.3 % Cu ( SBN:Cu) were measured. The photorefractive effect of SBN was demonstrated by a two-wave mixing experiment.