Physicochemical Properties of Rf Magnetron Sputtered Lead Zirconate Titanate Thin Films

Lead zirconate titanate thin films have been grown by rf magnetron sputtering an oxide target of nominal composition [Pb(Zr0.55,Ti0.45)O3 or PZT] in argon. The kinetics of the sputtering process and the effect of sputtering parameters on film composition have been studied and related to the continuously monitored optical emission of the plasma. The relative and absolute cation and oxygen compositions of the thin films were determined by a new method based on the simultaneous use of Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) and nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) induced by a deuteron beam. The conditions for the deposition at room temperature of stoichiometric PZT films were established.