Dielectric Properties of Ca0.8Sr1.2Nb3O10 Nanosheet Thin Film Deposited by the Electrophoretic Deposition Method

Two-dimensional (2D) niobate-based nanosheets have attracted attention as high-k dielectric materials. We synthesized strontiumsubstituted calcium niobate ($Ca_{0.8}Sr_{1.2}Nb_3O_{10}$) nanosheets by a two-step cation exchange process from $KCa_{0.8}Sr_{1.2}Nb_3O_{10}$ ceramic. The $K^+$ ions were exchanged with $H^+$ ions, and then H+ ions were exchanged with tetrabutylammonium ($TBA^+$) cations. The $Ca_{0.8}Sr_{1.2}Nb_3O_{10}$ nanosheets were then exfoliated, decreasing the electrostatic interaction between each niobate layer. Furthermore, $Ca_2Nb_3O_{10}$ nanosheets were synthesized in same process for comparison. Each exfoliated nanosheet shows a single-crystal phase and has a lateral size of over 100 nm. The nanosheets were deposited on a $Pt/Ti/SiO_2/Si$ substrate by the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method at 40 V, followed by ultraviolet irradiation of the films in order to remove the remaining $TBA^+$ ions. The $Ca_{0.8}Sr_{1.2}Nb_3O_{10}$ thin film exhibited twice the dielectric permittivity (~60) and lower dielectric loss than $Ca_2Nb_3O_{10}$ thin films.