Lead Titanate, PbTiO3
Lead titanate (PbTiO3) sputtering targets from Infinita Materials provide a high-purity source material for depositing tetragonal perovskite ferroelectric thin films. As the lead-rich end-member of the lead zirconate titanate (PZT) system, PbTiO3 combines a high ferroelectric transition temperature with strong piezoelectric anisotropy, making it valuable for MEMS, pyroelectric sensing, and thin film ferroelectric research. Each target is supplied by Infinita Materials with documented purity, density, and dimensional specifications suited to RF magnetron sputtering.
| Purity (%) : | >99.9 |
| Dimensions : | Dia. 1”, Thick. 0.125” Dia. 2”, Thick. 0.25” |
Introduction to Lead Titanate
Lead titanate (PbTiO₃) crystallises in the tetragonal perovskite structure (P4mm) below its Curie temperature of approximately 490 °C, transforming to a cubic paraelectric phase above it. Its pronounced tetragonal distortion and spontaneous polarisation produce strong ferroelectric, piezoelectric, and pyroelectric properties. As the PbTiO₃ end-member of the PZT system, it provides an important reference for lead-based ferroelectric materials. RF magnetron sputtering from dense ceramic targets enables controlled Pb stoichiometry and uniform thin-film deposition on silicon and MEMS-compatible substrates. Sputtered PbTiO₃ films are used in piezoelectric MEMS actuators and sensors, pyroelectric infrared detectors, nonvolatile memory research, electro-optic devices, and ferroelectric heterostructures.
FAQs
Introduction to Lead Titanate
Lead titanate (PbTiO₃) crystallises in the tetragonal perovskite structure (P4mm) below its Curie temperature of approximately 490 °C, transforming to a cubic paraelectric phase above it. Its pronounced tetragonal distortion and spontaneous polarisation produce strong ferroelectric, piezoelectric, and pyroelectric properties. As the PbTiO₃ end-member of the PZT system, it provides an important reference for lead-based ferroelectric materials. RF magnetron sputtering from dense ceramic targets enables controlled Pb stoichiometry and uniform thin-film deposition on silicon and MEMS-compatible substrates. Sputtered PbTiO₃ films are used in piezoelectric MEMS actuators and sensors, pyroelectric infrared detectors, nonvolatile memory research, electro-optic devices, and ferroelectric heterostructures.
Key Properties of Lead Titanate
| Property | Value | Significance |
|---|
| Chemical formula | PbTiO3 | Defines the 1:1:3 Pb: Ti:O stoichiometry that must be preserved during sputtering to obtain a phase-pure ferroelectric film |
| CAS number | 12060-00-3 | Unique substance identifier used for procurement, safety documentation, and customs classification |
| Molar mass | ~303.09 g/mol | Used to calculate deposition rates and target consumption per unit film mass |
| Density | ~7.52 g/cm3 | High density relative to many oxide targets increases sputter yield and supports stable erosion behaviour. |
| Crystal structure | Tetragonal perovskite (P4mm) below the Curie point; cubic perovskite above it | The tetragonal phase is the source of the material’s ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties |
| Curie temperature | ~490 C (763 K) | Marks the ferroelectric-to-paraelectric transition and sets the practical upper temperature limit for retaining polarisation in a device |
| Melting point | ~1,220 C | Relevant to sintering and hot-pressing conditions used to fabricate dense target blanks |
| Thermal conductivity | ~1.0-2.0 W/m*K at room temperature | Low value requires controlled sputtering power and, typically, indium bonding to manage thermal stress and prevent target cracking. |
Types & Grades of Lead Titanate
Lead Titanate targets are offered in standard catalogue sizes and grades, with custom purity, density, and geometry available for OEM and R&D deposition systems.
| Grade / Form | Typical Purity | Key Features / Uses |
|---|
| Standard disc target | 99.9% | General-purpose grade for thin film development and process qualification |
| High-purity grade | 99.95% – 99.99% | Reduces trace-metal contamination for low-defect-density ferroelectric and piezoelectric films |
| Indium-bonded target | 99.9% | Bonded to a copper backing plate to improve thermal contact and reduce cracking risk given the material’s brittleness and low thermal conductivity |
| Step or segmented target | 99.9% | Configured for magnetron systems requiring stepped erosion profiles or multi-piece large-area coverage |
| Hot-pressed sintered ceramic | 99.9% | Processed to high relative density with low residual porosity for uniform, arc-resistant sputtering |
Applications of Lead Titanate
Sputtered films of Lead Titanate support demanding roles across research and production applications where this material’s specific structural, electronic, or optical properties are the key requirement.
| Industry | Application | Function |
|---|
| MEMS and microelectronics | Piezoelectric microactuators and microsensors | Sputtered PbTiO3 film converts electrical drive signals into precise mechanical displacement. |
| Infrared sensing | Pyroelectric detector elements | Thin film converts fluctuations in incident thermal radiation into a measurable electrical signal. |
| Semiconductor and memory research | Ferroelectric thin films for nonvolatile memory studies | Reversible polarisation switching in the tetragonal phase supports charge-state storage research |
| Photonics and optics | Electro-optic modulators and optical waveguide films | Field-dependent refractive index enables light modulation in integrated optical structures |
| Energy harvesting | MEMS-scale piezoelectric energy harvesters | Converts ambient mechanical vibration into usable electrical power via the piezoelectric effect |
| Materials research | Reference films for the PZT (lead zirconate titanate) system | Serves as the lead-titanate end-member composition against which zirconium-substituted PZT films are benchmarked |
Why Partner with Infinita Materials?
- Technical Depth: in-house quality control with ICP-MS and XRF purity verification, density measurement, and full certificates of analysis on every target.
- Global Logistics: reliable supply from single R&D-scale targets to production-line volumes, with established international shipping.
- Responsive Support: direct access to materials engineers for grade, bonding, and geometry selection, and process-compatibility questions.
Take the Next Step
Infinita Materials fabricates Lead Titanate sputtering targets engineered to the purity, density, and geometry your deposition process requires. Whether the requirement is a standard catalogue target or a custom size, purity, or bonded assembly, our team can help match the right specification to your deposition system. Request a quote or speak with our technical team to discuss your target specification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lead Titanate, PbTiO3
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