Growth and optical properties of SrBi2Nb2O9 ferroelectric thin films using pulsed laser deposition

High quality SrBi2Nb2O9 ferroelectric thin films were fabricated on platinized silicon using pulsed laser deposition assisted with dc glow discharge plasma. Microstructure and ferroelectric properties of the films were characterized. Optical properties of the thin films were studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry and photoluminescence from the ultraviolet to the infrared region. Optical constants, n similar to 0.56 in the infrared region and n similar to 2.24 in the visible spectral region, were determined through multilayer analyses on their respective pseudodielectric functions. The band-gap energy is estimated to be 3.60 eV. A photoluminescence peak at 0.78 mum, whose intensity decreases with decreasing temperature, was observed when excited with subband-gap energy. (2.41 eV). This emission process may involve intermediate defect states at the crystallite boundaries. A possible mechanism for the observed photoluminescence, a Nb4+-O- exciton in the NbO6 octahedron, is discussed. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.