Temperature–Time Texture Transition of Pb(Zr_1−xTi_x)O₃ Thin Films: II, Heat Treatment and Compositional Effects

Texture transition of Pb(Zr_1−xTi_x)O₃ thin films grown from a metallo–organic solution onto Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates has been studied. The orientation obtained depends on the crystallization temperature and time and can be drastically altered by modifying the heat treatment schedule. A [100] texture requires an initial seeding treatment in the intermediate temperature range. This is attributed to a nucieation advantage associated with the formation of an intermediate PbO[001] texture that tends to form at intermediate temperature over time. A [111] texture develops at higher temperature during rapid heating and can be rationalized by the formation of an epitaxial intermetallic phase Pt_5–7Pb, at the PZT/Pt interface that provides lattice matching between PZT(lll), Pt_5–7Pb(lll), and Pt(lll). Temperature–time transformation texture (TTT) diagrams of PZT texture have been constructed for seeding various orientations. The effect of composition (Pb excess and Zr/Ti ratio) and the possible manipulation of these texture selection relations by combining compositional tailoring and heat treatment schedules are illustrated.