Structural and Dielectric Properties of SnTiO3, a Putative Ferroelectric

Perovskite SnTiO3 has been predicted to be ferroelectric with properties comparable to BaTiO3. Here we report on the experimental discovery of a new SnTiO3 phase, in the form of thin films grown on various substrates by pulsed laser deposition. They exhibit an unexpected epitaxial relationship, different from the predicted perovskite structure. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy experiments show that the films grown have an ilmenite structure. The films are insulating but do not display any ferroelectricity at room temperature; however, some films contain a small second phase component consistent with the predicted perovskite phase.