Effects of europium content on the microstructural and ferroelectric properties of Bi4-xEuxTi3O12 thin films

The effects of europium (Eu) content on the microstructure, fatigue endurance, leakage current density, and remnant polarization (2P(r)) of Bi4-xEuxTi3O12 (BET) thin films prepared by metal-organic decomposition method at 700 degrees C annealing temperature were studied in detail. The results showed that 2P(r) (82 mu C/cm(2) under 300 kV/cm), fatigue endurance (2% loss of 2P(r) after 9.0x10(9) switching cycles), and leakage current density (1x10(-8) A/cm(2) at 200 kV/cm) of BET thin film with x=0.85 are better than those of thin films with other contents. Additionally, the mechanism concerning the dependence of ferroelectric properties on Eu content was discussed. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.