High Throughput Synthesis of PbnNb2O5+n (1.5 = n = 3) Pyrochlore-Structured Tunable Thin Films: Funding for Proof of Concept

A new high throughput method will be used to synthesise thin films in the PbnNb2O5+n system such that n is varied from 1.5 to 3 across a 1 inch electroded substrate. Variation in the PbO/Nb2O5 ratio across the substrate will be monitored using energy and wavelength dispersive x-ray microanalysis and changes in symmetry will be investigated use glancing angle X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Screening of the dielectric properties will be performed using local impedance measurements under zero and bias field at radio frequencies in order to determine compositions with the highest figure of merit for tunable filter applications. Limited MW measurements will be performed on optimised compositions to determine whether these compounds exhibit sufficient tunability and low enough dielectric loss to have a significant impact in the microelectronics community.