Sol-gel synthesis of lithium niobate powder and thin films using lithium 2,4-pentanedionate as lithium source

Lithium niobate powder was prepared at 500 °C by a sol-gel method using lithium 2,4-pentanedionate as the lithium source. This method offers an advantage over the double alkoxide method as lithium 2,4-pentanedionate is less prone to moisture as compared to lithium ethoxide precursor and also it is easily soluble in 2-methoxyethanol. Microstructural investigation revealed sub-micrometer gel powder heat treated at 600 °C. Thin films of lithium niobate with no preferred orientation were obtained at 350 °C by spin coating of the above precursor solution onto platinum coated silicon substrates.