La2Zr2O7 buffer layer prepared on cube textured Ni-5at.%W substrates by a nitrate route

This paper states the epitaxial growth of La2Zr2O7(LZO) buffer layers on the cube textured nickel alloy substrate, with the nitrate as the precursor. The solution stability and the heat treatment processing were discussed respectively. The solution of hydrated nitrates dissolved in ethanol being a sol at a higher temperature, the precursor was pre-dried and methanol was substituted with a higher dielectric constant. Because of the multi-step decomposition of the nitrates, a multi-step heat treatment route was followed, the complete decomposition of the intermediate phases being essential. The orientation analysis shows a cube textured film with the FWHM values of the (222) phi-scan and of the (400) omega-scan being 8.50 degrees and 8.10 degrees respectively. The SEM image shows a dense and homogeneous film without cracks and holes. The analysis above indicates that the present route is feasible for the preparation of LZO buffer layers. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of the Guest Editors.