Synthesis of Semiconducting $KTaO_3$ Thin films

In this study, the synthesis and semiconducting properties of cation and defect-doped $KTaO_3$ film is reported. $KTaO_3$ is an important material for optoelectronic and tunable microwave applications. It is an incipient ferroelectric with a cubic structure that becomes ferroelectric when doped with Nb. While numerous studies have investigated the thin-film growth of semiconducting perovskites, little is reported about semiconducting $KTaO_3$ thin films. In this work, the films were grown on (001) MgO single crystal substrates using pulsed-laser deposition. Semiconducting behavior is achieved by inducing oxygen vacancies in the $KTaO_3$ lattice via growth in a hydrogen atmosphere. The resistivity of semiconducting $KTaO_3:Ca$ films was as low as 10cm, and n-type semiconducting behavior was indicated. Hall mobility and carrier concentration were $0.27cm^2/Vs$ and $3.21018cm^{-3}$, respectively. Crystallinity and microstructure of the $KTaO_3:Ca$ films were examined using X-ray diffraction and field-emission scanning microscopy.