9360671 Gordon This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project is in the general area of inorganic chemistry and in the subfield of Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD). The objective of the Phase I research is the design, synthesis, and decomposition studies of organolead precursors to lead titanate, lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and lead lanthanum titanate (PLZT). These materials are ferroelectric ceramics and find uses in radiation-hard memories, electrooptic spatial light modulators, piezoelectric actuators and infrared detectors. Currently used precursors are either too volatile and too toxic, e.g. tetraethyllead or not volatile enough for MOCVD applications. Two new classes of lead alkoxides will be prepared; (1) lead alkoxides with spatially demanding ligands to prevent aggregation, an (2) cyclopentadienyllead alkoxides, believed to be more stable than alkyllead precursors. Following purification and characterization of the lead precursors, they will be decomposed along with appropriate titanium and/or zirconium alkoxides to produce lead titanate or PZT films. %%% Chemical vapor deposition of lead-based ferroelectric films is desirable for a variety of electronic devices. Synthesis of safer, optimized lead precursors will have an immediate effect on the market for these materials. ***
