Domain inversion by Li2O out-diffusion or proton exchange followed by heat treatment in LiTaO3 and LiNbO3

Abstract

Experimental studies on the domain inversion in LiTaO3 by Li2O out-diffusion or proton exchange followed by heat treatment at high temperatures are performed. According to our experiments and the results previously obtained in LiNbO3, a relationship between the domain inversion and Li2O ont-diffusion or proton exchange followed by heat treatment is assumed. An internal electric field model is proposed, which is based on the concentration gradient of lithium vacancies and protons. The domain inversion mechanism related to the two fabricating methods is explained for LiNbO3 (LN) and LiTaO3 (LT) by the tentative use of the model.