Sub-micrometer domain engineering on periodically poled lithium niobate

• Published in: Journal of crystal growth Vol. 292; no. 2; pp. 328 - 331
• Main Authors: Peng, L.-H., Chen, Y.-H., Lin, C.-D., Lin, L.-F., Kung, A.-H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.07.2006; Elsevier
• Subjects: B1. Lithium niobate; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Dielectric, piezoelectric, ferroelectric and antiferroelectric materials; Dielectrics, piezoelectrics, and ferroelectrics and their properties; Exact sciences and technology; Ferroelectricity and antiferroelectricity; Niobates, titanates, tantalates, pzt ceramics, etc; Physics; Switching phenomena; B1. Lithium niobate; 42.70.Mp; 77.84.Dy; 77.80.Fm; 81.65.Cf; Discontinuity; Atomic force microscopy; Scanning electron microscopy; Patterning; Inorganic compounds; Nucleation; Ternary compounds; Transition element compounds; Poling; Experimental study; Switching; Optical microscopy; Self organization; Ferroelectric materials; Domain structure; Lithium niobates; Photoresists; Photolithography; 81.65.Cf B1. Lithium niobate
• ISSN: 0022-0248; 1873-5002
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2006.04.029

We report a novel method to realize high-aspect ratio (∼1000) of submicron size inverted domains in two-dimensional periodically poled lattice structure on 0.5 mm-thick lithium niobate (LiNbO 3) substrate. This is achieved by photolithographic patterning of LiNbO 3 surface with self-organized dielectric spheres, followed by pulsed-field poling with liquid electrodes. The realization of submicron domain structures on electrically poled LiNbO 3 is ascribed to a local modification of the polarization switching field due to the dielectric- and structure-induced discontinuity at the boundary between the photoresist opening and self-organized dielectric spheres.