不同晶向SrTiO3上外延GaAs薄膜的光谱研究

利用MBE生长技术,成功地在不同晶向SrTiO3(100)(111)(110)衬底上生长了GaAs薄膜,利用显微Raman和荧光光谱（PL）对此进行了研究。实验结果表明,在不同晶向SrTiO3上生长的GaAs薄膜有不同的晶向和应力状态。荧光光谱（PL）研究表明在SrTiO3(100)(111)晶面上生长的GaAs薄膜的PL峰发生明显的蓝移。研究表明在SrTiO3(110)面上生长的GaAs薄膜和体单晶基本上一致,有更好的光学质量。     

Probing the ferroelectric phase transition in sol–gel‐derived polycrystalline bismuth ferrite thin films

Polycrystalline BiFeO₃ (BFO) thin films were successfully grown on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si(100) and SrTiO₃ (STO) (100) substrates using the chemical solution deposition (CSD) technique. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicate the polycrystalline nature of the films with rhombohedrally distorted perovskite crystal structure. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) was performed on the sol–gel‐derived powder to countercheck the crystal structure, ferroelectric (FE) to paraelectric (PE) phase transition, and melting point of bismuth ferrite. We observed a significant exothermic peak at 840 °C in DTA graphs, which corresponds to an FE–PE phase transition. Raman spectroscopy studies were carried out on BFO thin films prepared on both the substrates over a wide range of temperature. The room‐temperature unpolarized Raman spectra of BFO thin films indicate the presence of 13 Raman active modes, of which five strong modes were in the low‐wavenumber region and eight weak Raman active modes above 250 cm⁻¹. We observed slight shifts in the lower wavenumbers towards lower values with increase in temperature. The temperature‐dependent Raman spectra indicate a complete disappearance of all Raman active modes at 840 °C corresponding to the FE–PE phase transitions. There is no evidence of soft mode phonons. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman-spectroscopy study of PbTiO3 thin films grown on Si substrates by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

Raman spectra have been investigated in PbTiO₃ thin films grown on Si by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. A large grazing-angle scattering technique was taken to measure the temperature dependence of Raman spectra below room temperature. All Raman modes in the thin films are assigned and compared with those in the bulk single crystal, a newA ₁(TO) soft mode at 104 cm^–1 was recorded which satisfies the Curie-Weiss relation ² =A(T _c –T). Intensities of theA ₁(1TO) andE(1TO) modes were anomalously strengthened with increasing temperature. Raman modes for the thin films exhibit remarkable frequency downshift and upshift which is related to the effect of internal stress.     

溶胶-凝胶法制备BaTiO3/SrTiO3多层膜的介电增强效应

采用溶胶凝胶法,在PtTiSiO2Si衬底上逐层制备了BaTiO3SrTiO3多层膜.从多层膜的XRD图可看出明显的双峰,分别对应为BaTiO3和SrTiO3的特征峰,表明样品已形成了多层膜结构.与同厚度的Ba05Sr05TiO3单层膜比较,BaTiO3SrTiO3多层膜的介电系数得到了明显的增强,在频率为10kHz时,周期为66nm的BaTiO3SrTiO3多层膜相对于同厚度的Ba05Sr05TiO3薄膜的介电系数从245增强到595,而损耗依然保持较低,分别为0029和0033.研究同时表明,BaTi 关键词： 溶胶-凝胶法 多层膜 介电增强     

Metal-insulator transition in SrTiO(3-x) thin films induced by frozen-out carriers

We report optical, electrical and magnetotransport properties of oxygen deficient SrTiO(3) (SrTiO(3-x)) thin films fabricated by pulsed laser deposition technique. The oxygen vacancies (O(vac)) in the thin film are expected to be uniform. By comparing its electrical properties to those of bulk SrTiO(3-x), it was found that O(vac) in bulk SrTiO(3-x) is far from uniform over the whole material. The metal-insulator transition (MIT) observed in the SrTiO(3-x) film was found to be induced by the carrier freeze-out effect. The low temperature frozen state can be reexcited by Joule heating, electric and intriguingly magnetic field.     

Imaging the phase separation in atomically thin buried SrTiO(3) layers by electron channeling

A phase-separation instability, resulting in the dewetting of thin SrTiO(3) films grown on Si(100) is shown by scanning transmission electron microscopy. Plan-view imaging of 1-nm thick, buried SrTiO(3) films was achieved by exploiting electron channeling through the substrate to focus the incident 0.2 nm beam down to a 0.04 nm diameter, revealing a nonuniform coverage by epitaxial SrTiO(3) islands and 2 x 1 Sr-covered regions. Density-functional calculations predict the ground state is a coexistence of 2 x 1 Sr-reconstructed Si and Sr-deficient SrTiO(3), in correspondence with the observed islanding.     

The effects of thermal annealing on the obliquely deposited Ag-Ge-S thin films

Obliquely deposited thin films of ternary Ag-Ge-S glasses are characterized in this work. Thin films are fabricated in a vacuum thermal evaporator at different evaporation angles and examined by Raman spectroscopy. The Raman mode frequency of GeS₄ corner-sharing (CS) structure of the as-deposited films display a red-shift as a function of Ag content due to reduced global connectivity, and therefore decreased network stress. Film thickness of normally deposited thin films is significantly less when compared against obliquely deposited ones. Sulfur-ring (S₈) modes are observed in thin films but not in corresponding bulk material. Thermal annealing of thin films results in the disappearance of Sulfur-ring (S₈) modes, while the temperature required for this phenomenon is deposition angle dependent. Thickness of the obliquely deposited films shrinks significantly after thermal annealing, which indicates a collapse of the micro-column structure introduced by oblique deposition.     

Unusual behavior of the ferroelectric polarization in PbTiO3/SrTiO3 superlattices

Artificial PbTiO3/SrTiO3 superlattices were constructed using off-axis rf magnetron sputtering. X-ray diffraction and piezoelectric atomic force microscopy were used to study the evolution of the ferroelectric polarization as the ratio of PbTiO3 to SrTiO3 was changed. For PbTiO3 layer thicknesses larger than the 3-unit cell SrTiO3 thickness used in the structure, the polarization is found to be reduced as the thickness is decreased. This observation confirms the primary role of the depolarization field in the polarization reduction in thin films. For the samples with ratios of PbTiO3 to SrTiO3 of less than one, a surprising recovery of ferroelectricity that cannot be explained by electrostatic considerations was observed.     

Strain-induced properties of epitaxial VOx thin films

We have grown VOx thin films on different substrates in order to investigate the influence of epitaxial strain on the transport properties. We found that the electric conductivity is much larger for films grown under compressive strain on SrTiO3 substrates, as compared to bulk material and VOx films grown under tensile strain on MgO substrates. A clear crossover from metallic to semiconducting behavior is observed when increasing the oxygen content x. Apparently, the application of strain induces a Mott-Hubbard insulator-to-metal transition in VOx<1. The VOx/SrTiO3 films show an unexpected large positive magnetoresistance effect at low temperatures, which is not found in the VOx films grown under tensile strain on MgO or on a substrate with a similar lattice parameter.     

In-plane and out-of-plane ferroelectric instabilities in epitaxial SrTiO3 films

The in-plane and out-of-plane ferroelectric instabilities in compressed (100)-epitaxial SrTiO3 films were examined by infrared reflection spectroscopy. The strongly stiffened in-plane soft mode frequency softened very slowly on cooling. On the other hand, the silent mode appeared at around 150 K, indicating an out-of-plane ferroelectric transition. This behavior points to a split of in-plane and out-of-plane ferroelectric instability temperatures due to the lowered symmetry of the SrTiO3 lattice caused by mechanical misfit strain. Infrared spectroscopy provides a possibility to detect such an effect in the strained epitaxial ferroelectric films.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering study of silver deposition on thin Alq3 layers

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is applied to study in situ the interface formation of silver on thin Alq₃ films. The changes in the frequencies of Alq₃ vibrational modes are moderate and their line-shape is preserved upon Ag deposition. Moreover, a good correspondence appears between the SERS and powder spectra and frequencies predicted by density functional calculations for the meridianal isomer. The behaviour of Raman spectra indicates that no chemical interaction occurs between the Ag atoms and Alq₃ molecules.     

Leakage current, ferroelectric and structural properties in Pb1−xBaxTiO3 thin films prepared by chemical route

Single-phase perovskite structure Pb_1−xBa_xTiO₃ thin films (x=0.30, 0.50 and 0.70) were deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates by the spin-coating technique. The dielectric study reveals that the thin films undergo a diffuse type ferroelectric phase transition, which shows a broad peak. An increase of the diffusivity degree with the increasing Barium contents was observed, and it was associated to a grain decrease in the studied composition range. The temperature dependence of the phonon frequencies was used to characterize the phase transition temperatures. Raman modes persist above tetragonal to cubic phase transition temperature, although all optical modes should be Raman inactive. The origin of these modes was interpreted in terms of breakdown of the local cubic symmetry by chemical disorder. The absence of a well-defined transition temperature and the presence of broad bands in some interval temperature above FE-PE phase transition temperature suggested a diffuse type phase transition. This result corroborates the dielectric constant versus temperature data, which showed a broad ferroelectric phase transition in these thin films. The leakage current density of the PBT thin films was studied at different temperatures and the data follow the Schottky emission model. Through this analysis the Schottky barrier height values 0.75, 0.53 and 0.34 eV were obtained to the PBT70, PBT50 and PBT30 thin films, respectively.     

Ideal soft mode-type quantum phase transition and phase coexistence at quantum critical point in 18O-exchanged SrTiO3

The quantum ferroelectric phase transition of 18O-exchanged SrTiO3 (x% exchanged SrTiO3 is abbreviated as STO18-x) was investigated by Raman scattering as a function of x. The result indicates the ideal soft mode-type quantum ferroelectric phase transition of STO18-x, where the 18O exchange enhances the softening of the soft mode by the suppression of quantum fluctuation. In the vicinity of the quantum critical point (x approximately xc=33%), the system results in the ferroelectric-paraelectric phase coexistence state, in clear contrast to the homogeneous ferroelectric phase in STO18-x, whose x is sufficiently larger than xc. Simultaneously, the softening of the soft mode becomes strongly rounded with the underdamped oscillation. The present result indicates that the sensitivity of the soft phonon vibration to the mass disorder is dramatically enhanced in the vicinity of the quantum critical point.     

P型半导体氧化锌薄膜的Raman光谱研究

本文主要对超声喷雾热解方法生长在本征Si衬底上的N－In共掺的p型ZnO薄膜的Raman光谱进行了研究。通过洛仑兹(Lorentz)模型和等离子激元与纵光学声子耦合模理论模型拟合不同浓度下的室温Raman光谱, 我们对样品的Raman峰进行了指认; 同时也得到了样品的空穴浓度和迁移率, 结果和霍耳测量得到的空穴浓度和迁移率符合的较好, 证明了霍耳测量p型ZnO薄膜得到的电学参数是可信的。随后我们又对不同浓度的p型ZnO薄膜的变温Raman光谱进行研究,运用一个详细的模型(考虑了晶格热膨胀、残余应力、和三声子、四声子衰变)描述不同浓度下各个样品Raman光谱中的等离子激元与纵光学声子耦合模随温度变化的情况。分析拟合参数, 可以清楚地了解随着浓度的增加耦合模参数随温度的衰变行为。     

Raman scattering spectra of ceramics, films, and superlattices of ferroelectric perovskites: A review

Raman investigations of the crystal lattice dynamics in classical ferroelectric perovskites SrTiO₃, PbTiO₃, and BaTiO₃ have been analyzed. The specific features revealed in the behavior of soft modes during the phase transitions occurring in ceramics and powders of these compounds, as well as in several related solid solutions, have been described. Particular attention has been paid to the investigations of ferroelectric thin films and superlattices in which the sequences of structural distortions can be radically different from those known for the initial bulk materials.     

Strain phase diagram and domain orientation in SrTiO3 thin films

SrTiO3 thin films were used as a model system to study the effects of strain and epitaxial constraint on structural phase transitions of perovskite films. The basic phenomena revealed will apply to a variety of important structural transitions including the ferroelectric transition. Highly strained SrTiO3 films were grown on different substrates, providing both compressive and tensile strain. The measured strain-temperature phase diagram is qualitatively consistent with theory; however, the increase in the phase transition temperature is much larger than predicted. Because of the epitaxial strain and substrate clamping, the SrTiO3 lattice is tetragonal at all temperatures. The phase transitions involve only changes in internal symmetry. The low temperature phase under tensile strain has a unique structure with orthorhombic Cmcm space group but a tetragonal lattice, an interesting consequence of epitaxial constraint.     

Thermal Hysteresis in La2/3 Ca1/3 MnO3 Films Grown on Tilted SrTiO3 Substrates and Influence of External Magnetic Field

Thermal hysteresis in the resistivity of La2/3 Cu1/3MnO3 thin films grown on tilted SrTiO3 substrates is simulated by using the random network model on the basis of mixed-phase percolation between metallic and insulating domains, The metallic-insulating transition temperatures during the warming process are lower than those during the cooling process due to the difference in fraction of metallic domains between warming and cooling process. With an external magnetic field, the metallic-insulating transition temperatures shift to a higher value and the resistivities are reduced. The excellent agreement between the simulation and the experimental data further verifies that phase separation plays a crucial role in the transport process of La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 thin films.     

Polar dependent in-plane electric transport of epitaxial ZnO thin films on SrTiO(3) substrates

Polar (001) and nonpolar (110) ZnO epitaxial thin films were grown on SrTiO(3) substrates by the pulsed laser deposition method and the in-plane electric transport was investigated. Both films display semiconducting behavior. The polar thin films have linear I-V relations with mobility increasing almost linearly with temperature. In contrast, for nonpolar ZnO thin films, the I-V curves are symmetric and nonlinear with room temperature resistivity 30 times larger than that of polar thin films. We conclude that in nonpolar ZnO thin films the bound polarization charge induced barrier limits the carrier transport. Instead, for polar thin films, the polar effect on the in-plane transport is negligible, and the charged dislocation scattering is dominant. Our observations suggest the polar effect should be considered in the design of ZnO related devices.     

The third-order optical nonlinearity of the stainless steel doped SrTiO_3 thin film grown by L-MBE

Stainless steel-doped SrTiO3 thin films were fabricated by laser molecular beam epitaxy (L-MBE). Nonlinear optical property of the thin film was measured by the single beam Z-scan technique at the wavelength of 532 nm. Two two-phonon absorption coefficient and nonlinear refractive index were determined to be 9.37 x 10-7 m/W and 1.55 x 10-6 esu, respectively. The merit figure T was calculated to be 1.8, satisfying condition T < 1 for an optical switch. The thin film has a very promising prospect for the applications in optical device.     

A Raman and dielectric study of a diffuse phase transition in (Pb<Subscript>1-x</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>x</Subscript>)TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> thin films

Dielectric and Raman scattering experiments were performed on polycrystalline Pb_1-xCa_xTiO₃ thin films (x=0.10, 0.20, 0.30, and 0.40) as a function of temperature. The results showed no shift in the dielectric constant (K) maxima, a broadening with frequency, and a linear dependence of the transition temperature on increasing Ca²⁺ content. On the other hand, a diffuse-type phase transition was observed upon transforming from the cubic paraelectric to the tetragonal ferroelectric phase in all thin films. The temperature dependence of Raman scattering spectra was investigated through the ferroelectric phase transition. The temperature dependence of the phonon frequencies was used to characterize the phase transitions. Raman modes persisted above the tetragonal to cubic phase transition temperature, although all optical modes should be Raman inactive. The origin of these modes was interpreted in terms of a breakdown of the local cubic symmetry due to chemical disorder. The lack of a well-defined transition temperature and the presence of broad bands in some temperature interval above the FE–PE phase transition temperature suggested a diffuse-type phase transition. This result corroborates the dielectric constant versus temperature data, which showed a broad ferroelectric phase transition in these thin films. PACS 77.80.Bh; 77.55.+f; 78.30.-j; 77.80.-e; 68.55.-a