Identification of LiNbO₃, LiNb₃O₈ and Li₃NbO₄ phases in thin films synthesized with different deposition techniques by means of XRD and Raman spectroscopy

J Phys Condens Matter. 2013 May 22;25(20):205901. doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/25/20/205901. Epub 2013 Apr 30.

Abstract

Phase composition of epitaxial/textured LiNbO3 films on sapphire substrates, grown by pulsed laser deposition, atmospheric pressure metal organic chemical vapor deposition and pulsed injection metal organic chemical vapor deposition was studied by conventional x-ray diffraction techniques. Raman spectroscopy, being highly sensitive to the symmetry of materials, was used as a countercheck in the compositional analysis. The wavenumbers of Raman modes of LiNb3O8 and Li3NbO4 phases were identified from Raman spectra of synthesized powders. Asymmetry of profiles of x-ray diffraction reflections of LiNbO3 films was studied. This asymmetry may have different origins which consequently may result in misleading conclusions about phase composition of textured LiNbO3 films.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't