Mechanical deformation of PZT thin films for MEMS applications

D. F. Bahr, J. S. Robach, J. S. Wright, L. F. Francis, W. W. Gerberich

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

63 Scopus citations

Abstract

The mechanical properties of solution deposited lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films; including the hardness, modulus, and fracture behavior, have been studied using continuous indentation methods. Comparisons are made between the behavior of the thin films and a bulk PZT ceramic. The thin films exhibit a hardness between 5 and 8 GPa, slightly lower than the hardness measured in a bulk PZT, ≈ 9 GPa. The increased grain boundary area in the thin films, which have 100 nm grain sizes, may act to accommodate plastic deformation. Fracture caused by indentations appears to be constrained to the sub-surface regions of the film, and no evidence of indentation induced delamination was observed. Traditional indentation analysis cannot accurately determine the elastic modulus of thin film PZT materials due to non-linear elastic behavior. The apparent modulus of the thin film PZT is insensitive to processing methods that alter the electrical properties of the film.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)126-131
Number of pages6
JournalMaterials Science and Engineering: A
Volume259
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 15 1999

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors wish to thank the Office of Naval Research for support of this project under a MURI, Grant Number N-N00014-95-10539. Additionally, DFB wishes to thank Drs N.R. Moody and M.I. Baskes of Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore for support and use of the Nanoindenter II facility. The assistance with AFM by J.A. Last and M.D. Ward and with X-ray measurements by P. Yurek of the University of Minnesota are greatly appreciated.

Keywords

  • Indentation
  • PZT
  • Thin films

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