Direct growth of orthorhombic potassium niobate (KNbO/sub 3/) crystal from an aqueous solution

Abstract

Ferroelectric orthorhombic potassium niobate (KNbO/sub 3/) crystal is successfully grown from an aqueous solution dissolving K/sub 2/NbO/sub 3/F as a nutrient. Although the size of each crystal is about 30 /spl mu/m or less, properties of the formed KNbO/sub 3/ crystals have been examined. The possibility of this method in the future to grow KNbO/sub 3/ crystals or thin films has also been investigated in order to apply KNbO/sub 3/ to SAW and BAW devices.