Fabrication and Characterization of Sol-Gel Derived Potassium Sodium Strontium Barium Niobate

Potassium sodium strontium barium niobate (K_0.2Na_0.2Sr_0.48Ba_0.32Nb₂O₆, KNSBN) powder and thin films dip coated onto Si(100) substrates have been prepared by sol-gel route. The thermal evolution of these sol-gel derived KNSBN was studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetry (TG). Their structural changes at different annealing temperatures were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Our results suggest that the KNSBN tetragonal tungsten bronze (TTB) phase is formed via an intermediate orthorhombic phase. Pure TTB phase KNSBN was obtained at annealing temperatures of 1200°C and 600°C for powder and films respectively.