Isopropanol effects on the phase formation and texturing of Sol-Gel derived PMN thin films

The effects of isopropanol as a dilute solution were studied on the phase formation, the microstructure and the texturing of sol-gel derived PMN thin films. The films fabricated using only methoxyethanol as a solvent consisted of pyrochlore phase and randomly oriented large perovskite grains. The films fabricated using the solution of 50% methoxyethanol and 50% isopropanol showed relatively lower phase formation temperature and consisted of mainly (111) preferred oriented small perovskite grains. Lead loss at the reaction temperature could be prevented by using the isopropanol as a dilute solution.