The growth of LiNbO3 (0 0 6) on MgO (0 0 1) and LiTaO3 (0 1 2) substrates by sol±gel procedure

LiNbO3 ®lms, which were based on a non-hydrolytic sol±gel route, were deposited on LiTaO3 (0 1 2) and MgO (0 0 1) substrates. After drying, thin ®lms with amorphous structure were obtained. During heat treatment followed by drying, amorphous structure changed into crystalline structure. Both cases of LiNbO3 ®lms showed high orientation of LiNbO3 (0 0 6) planes as well as other orientations. The in¯uences of substrate structure were investigated through the lattice matching mechanisms. A lattice matching relationship could be proposed as LiNbO3 (0 0 6)[2 1 0]//MgO (0 0 1)[1 1 0] for LiNbO3/ MgO system, and an indirect matching relationship of LiNbO3 (0 0 6)[ÿ1 1 0]//LiTaO3 (0 1 2)[1 0 0] for LiNbO3/LiTaO3 system. # 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved