Preparation of multiferroic lead iron niobate thin film with low crystallization temperature via sol-gel method using monoethanolamine

Abstract

This study reports the synthesis of a multiferroic lead iron niobate (PbFe1/2Nb1/2O3, PFN) thin film with a low crystallization temperature using monoethanolamine (MEA) as a chelating agent via a sol-gel method. The results revealed that the presence of MEA led the Nb precursor to react at similar to 150 degrees C instead of 325-350 degrees C, thus indicating that the Nb precursor reacted first with the Fe precursor rather than the Pb precursor. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction patterns revealed that the addition of MEA allowed the PFN thin films to be sintered as a single phase at low temperatures (similar to 500 degrees C), while this can be only achieved at temperatures above 800 degrees C in the absence of MEA. The scanning electron microscope images revealed that the obtained PFN thin film was uniformly coated on the SiO2/Si substrate both in the absence and presence of MEA. Consequently, the presence of MEA can broaden the application scope of PFN thin films in photovoltaic devices.