Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
High quality barium titanate films were grown on (001)LaAlO3 and r-Al2O3 in a wide thickness range of 0.5-10 µtm by sol-gel technique. Significant improvement of the films' crystallinity and optical quality was observed if acetate precursors are used vs. alkoxide precursors, and in the presence of lead oxide. The material is transparent at 350-2000 nm, indicating the possibility of its application in light controlling devices at wavelengths used in optical communication: 1300 and 1500 nm. Maximum field induced relative phase shift of 0.22 radian was measured in the film with composition of Ba0.9Pb0.1TiO3 under a field strength of 3.106 V/cm.