Piezoresponse force microscopy investigations of Aurivillius phase thin films

The sol-gel Synthesis and characterization of n >= 3 Aurivillius phase thin films deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO2-Si substrates is described. The number of perovskite layers, n, was increased by inserting BiFeO3 into three layered Aurivillius phase Bi4Ti3O12 to form compounds such as Bi5FeTi3O15 (n=4). 30% of the Fe3+ ions in Bi5FeTi3O15 were substituted with Mn3+ ions to form the structure Bi5Ti3Fe0.7Mn0.3O15. The electromechanical responses of the materials were investigated using piezoresponse force microscopy and the results are discussed in relation to the crystallinity of the films as measured by x-ray diffraction. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3474959]