Comparison of electro-optic lead-lanthanum zirconate titanate films on crystalline and glass substrates

Abstract

It has been demonstrated that electro-optically active lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) films derived from a water-soluble acetate precursor system can be produced on glass substrates at a processing temperature of 600 °C through the initial application of a lanthanum-modified lead titanate (PLT) buffer layer. A comparison of the electro-optic behavior is made between films deposited onto glass and single-crystal sapphire substrates when processed under the same conditions. Memory effects were observed in PZT 0/65/35 films, while quadratic behavior was exhibited by the PLZT 9/65/35 films consistent with expected bulk behavior. However, the measured birefringent shift in the films on glass substrates was lower than that on sapphire.