LiTaO3 Wafer Lithium Tantalate Electro-Optic Nonlinear Optical Piezoelectric Customization

LiTaO3 Wafer Lithium Tantalate Electro-Optic Nonlinear Optical Piezoelectric Customization

Introduce

Lithium tantalate is an excellent multifunctional crystalline material characterized by its ilmenite-type structure, exhibiting a colorless or pale yellow appearance. Renowned for its abundant raw material availability, exceptional thermal and chemical stability, and machinability, lithium tantalate enables the growth of high-quality, large-dimensioned single crystals. When polished, these crystals demonstrate outstanding performance in the fabrication of electronic communication components such as resonators, surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters, and transducers. As an indispensable functional material, lithium tantalate plays a critical role in advanced communication technologies including mobile communications, satellite systems, and aerospace applications.

Technical Features

​​(1) Electro-Optic Properties​​: Lithium tantalate exhibits remarkable electro-optic properties, which form the foundation for its applications in optical communications and computing. As a non-centrosymmetric crystal, lithium tantalate demonstrates a strong linear electro-optic (Pockels) effect. Under applied electric fields, its refractive index undergoes modulation, enabling efficient conversion of electrical signals into optical signal modulation.

​​(2) Photorefractive Effect​​: Lithium tantalate is highly photosensitive, even to weak light, which triggers significant photorefractive effects. Upon illumination, electrons in the material are excited from the valence band to the conduction band, leaving behind an equivalent number of holes. Free charges migrate under electric fields, forming spatial charge distributions that alter the internal electric field and induce refractive index changes. Notably, this photorefractive effect is typically reversible; once illumination ceases, the refractive index partially or fully recovers to its original state.

​​(3) Piezoelectric Effect​​: Belonging to the trigonal crystal system, lithium tantalate features a non-centrosymmetric structure with misaligned positive and negative charge centers. When subjected to mechanical stress, displacement between these charge centers generates surface charges, manifesting as a piezoelectric response.

Principle
With the rapid advancement of 5G communications, artificial intelligence, and IoT technologies, electronic devices are increasingly trending toward miniaturization, high-frequency operation, and integration. Lithium tantalate thin films are recognized for their exceptional electro-optic conversion properties, thermal characteristics, thermal conductivity, and silicon compatibility, making them an essential material for next-generation device development in the post-Moore's Law era.

​​Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD):​​
Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is an advanced technology employing organometallic thermal decomposition for vapor-phase epitaxial growth. Reactant gases are introduced into a reaction chamber, activated under controlled conditions, and subsequently react with the substrate surface to synthesize thin films. This method enables precise control over the chemical composition of the deposited material, offering advantages such as low stress, high-quality film formation, high purity, high throughput, and excellent uniformity.

Lithium Tantalate (LiTaO₃) Material Specifications​​

​I. Basic Properties

​II. Bulk Crystal Specifications

III. Wafer Specifications​​

Application

Piezoelectric Resonators & Filters: Leveraging its strong piezoelectric effect, LiTaO₃ is used in high-frequency surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters and bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonators for signal processing in mobile phones, satellite communications, and radar systems.

Ultrasonic Transducers & Piezoelectric Imaging: High electromechanical coupling coefficient makes LiTaO₃ ideal for medical ultrasound imaging and industrial non-destructive testing transducers.

Q&A

Q: What is LiTaO₃?
A: LiTaO₃ (Lithium Tantalate) is a single crystal material with excellent electro-optic, piezoelectric, and nonlinear optical properties. It is widely used in optical communication, lasers, acoustics, and infrared detection.

Q: What’s the difference between LiTaO₃ and LiNbO₃?
A: LiTaO₃ has a higher laser damage threshold and better thermal stability, making it more suitable for high-power lasers and frequency conversion. LiNbO₃, on the other hand, has a higher electro-optic coefficient and is commonly used in optical communication.

Q: What are the typical crystal orientations of LiTaO₃?
A: Common orientations include Z-cut (for electro-optic modulators and SAW devices) and X-cut/Y-cut (for specific acoustic wave applications).

Q: Can LiTaO₃ products be customized?
A: Yes, customization is available for size, orientation, thickness, surface finish, and doping concentration to meet various application requirements.

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