Characteristics of Barium Titanate Nanocube Ordered Assembly Thin Films Fabricated by Dip-Coating Method

Ordered assembly thin films of BaTiO3 (BT) nanocubes were fabricated on various Pt-coated substrates by dip-coating self-assembly and sintered at 850 degrees C. BT nanocubes aligned face-to-face in a wide region about 20 mu m(2) with a height of about 600 nm. The thickness of the assembly film was able to be controlled by changing the density of the BT nanocube dispersed solution. The local microstructure of the nanocube assembly was observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. It is revealed that the nanocubes were conjugated face-to-face without grain growth. The piezoresponse properties of BT nanocube assembled films on various substrates were investigated by scanning probe microscopy with a relatively high-force-constant cantilever. The relations between piezoelectric constant and electrical field showed ferroelectric hysteresis loops with high rectangularity. (C) 2013 The Japan Society of Applied Physics