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ZnO-BaTiO3 vertically aligned nanocomposite (VAN) thin films with tailorable morphology and functionalities.
Nirali A Bhatt1, Jianan Shen1, James P Barnard1
1School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. hwang00@purdue.edu.
Nanoscale
|November 10, 2025
Summary
This study synthesized Zinc Oxide-Barium Titanate (ZnO-BTO) vertically aligned nanocomposite thin films. These films show promise for sensor applications due to their tunable piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Solid State Physics
Background:
- Zinc Oxide (ZnO) is a piezoelectric material.
- Barium Titanate (BTO) exhibits ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties.
- Combining ZnO and BTO in nanocomposites can yield enhanced functional properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize ZnO-BTO vertically aligned nanocomposite (VAN) thin films.
- To investigate the effect of pulsed laser deposition (PLD) laser frequency on film properties.
- To explore the influence of substrate selection on VAN morphology and performance.
Main Methods:
- Vertically aligned nanocomposite (VAN) thin films of ZnO-BTO were synthesized using pulsed laser deposition (PLD).
- The laser frequency during PLD was systematically varied.
- Different substrate materials were employed to study their effects on film growth.
Main Results:
- Tuning PLD laser frequency altered adatom diffusion, influencing VAN pillar diameters.
- Substrate choice affected growth orientations and morphologies, enabling strain and property tuning.
- The synthesized ZnO-BTO VAN films exhibited significant piezoelectric and ferroelectric characteristics.
Conclusions:
- ZnO-BTO VAN thin films possess tunable piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties.
- Control over PLD parameters and substrate selection is crucial for optimizing film characteristics.
- These films demonstrate significant potential for advanced sensor applications.
