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Temperature-dependent property measurements on multi-electroded thin-layer dielectrics

Journal Article · · Review of Scientific Instruments; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1144820· OSTI ID:7275216
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Research Laboratory, and Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801 (United States)

A measurement system was designed and assembled for the automatic collection of electrical data for thin-layer dielectrics as a function of temperature. The dielectrics were deposited on platinized silicon by sol-gel processing, and the dielectric thickness was 0.2--0.4 [mu]m. Many ([gt]25) surface electrodes were formed by sputtering gold through a shadow mark, with a typical electrode size of 210[times]210 [mu]m[sup 2]. The measurement equipment was computer controlled, with three-axis digital stepping motors that could scan multi-electroded capacitors and collect statistically meaningful data. The temperature-dependent properties were measured between [minus]100 and 300 [degree]C as a function of frequency (100 Hz to 1 MHz) and applied field strength (0--50 MV/m). Data are reported for sol-gel-derived BaTiO[sub 3], PbZrO[sub 3], and (Pb,La)(Zr,Ti)O[sub 3] (i.e., PLZT) thin-layer capacitors. Capacitance values were typically 500--1000 pF, and the dielectric constant could be determined within a standard deviation of [plus minus]1.3%. Nanocrystalline BaTiO[sub 3] was found to have a dielectric constant of 210 at room temperature with no ferroelectric properties or dielectric anomalies between [minus]80 and 200 [degree]C. Antiferroelectric PbZrO[sub 3] had characteristic field-forced phase transformation behavior to the ferroelectric state with increasing bias. The field-induced polarization was approximately 300 mC/m[sup 2] and the coercive field was 22--28 MV/m. PLZT 8/65/35 had a dielectric constant of 556[plus minus]7 at 25 [degree]C, 100 KHz, and 50 mV.

DOE Contract Number:
FG02-91ER45439
OSTI ID:
7275216
Journal Information:
Review of Scientific Instruments; (United States), Journal Name: Review of Scientific Instruments; (United States) Vol. 65:6; ISSN 0034-6748; ISSN RSINAK
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English