Lithium Tantalate (LiTaO3) for Research and Production

university wafer substrates

100mm LiTaO3 Substrates Used for Etching Tests

An associate professor researching Si3N4-based nonlinear integrated photonics requested the following quote:

I dont have precise requirements for these specifications. I’ll glue the chips to silicon wafers for etch tests anyway. It would be cool to have 4 inch wafers as carriers for etching tests, to see how an etching process would behave on a full wafer. Quote: 10 wafers optical grade, X Cut.

Reference #304096 for specs and pricing.

Get Your FAST! Or, Buy Online and Start Researching Today!





Lithium Tantalate (LiTaO3) Wafers in stock:

  • LiTaO3 optical grade, X-cut, 10x10x0.5mm, DSP
  • LiTaO3 saw grade, X-cut, 10x10x0.5mm, SSP
  • LiTaO3 saw grade, X-cut, 3" Dia x 0.5mm wafer, SSP
  • LiTaO3 optical grade, Y-cut, 10x10x0.5 mm, DSP
  • LiTaO3 saw grade, Y-cut, 10x10x0.5mm, SSP
  • LiTaO3 Saw grade, Y-cut wafer with 128 degree off , 3" dia x0.5 mm , SSP-1
  • LiTaO3 Saw grade, Y-cut wafer with 36 degree off , 2" dia x0.5 mm , SSP-1
  • LiTaO3 Saw grade, Y-cut wafer with 36 degree off , 3" dia x0.4 mm , SSP
  • LiTaO3 Saw grade, Y-cut wafer with 36 degree off , 4" dia x0.35 mm , SSP
  • LiTaO3 Saw grade, Z-cut, 10x10x0.5 mm, SSP
  • LiTaO3 optical grade, Z-cut, 10x10x0.25 mm, DSP
  • LiTaO3 optical grade, Z-cut, 10x10x0.5 mm, DSP
  • LiTaO3 optical grade, Z-cut, 10x10x1.0 mm, DSP
  • LiTaO3 optical grade, Z-cut wafer, 2" Dia x 0.5mm , DSP
  • LiTaO3 optical grade, Z-cut wafer, 3" Dia x 0.5mm , DSP
  • LiTaO3 saw grade, Z-cut, 3"Dia x0.5mm wafer, SSP

🧪 Lithium Tantalate (LiTaO₃) Wafers for Photonics, SAW, and MEMS Applications

UniversityWafer, Inc. offers high-quality Lithium Tantalate (LiTaO₃) wafers in a variety of orientations, cuts, and specifications for researchers and commercial device manufacturers. LiTaO₃ is widely used in acousto-optic, piezoelectric, and electro-optic applications due to its exceptional crystal and dielectric properties.

🔍 Available Specifications

Property Options & Values
Orientation X-cut, Y-cut, Z-cut, 36° Y-cut, 128° Y-cut
Diameter 2", 3", 4", 6"
Thickness 200 µm – 1000 µm
Polish Single or Double Side Polished (SSP/DSP)
Surface Roughness < 1 nm Ra (DSP available for optical-grade applications)
Material Type Congruent or Near-Stoichiometric
Resistivity High-resistivity dielectric substrate
Crystal Type Single-crystal, Y/LT grown
Usage Epi-ready, SAW-ready, optical-quality

📦 Custom specs available on request – fast lead times and academic discounts offered.

🔬 Key Features of LiTaO₃ Wafers

  • High thermal and mechanical stability

  • Excellent piezoelectric coupling (ideal for SAW/BAW devices)

  • Low dielectric loss and broad optical transmission range

  • Strong nonlinear optical behavior for harmonic generation

  • Ideal for MEMS resonators, electro-optic switches, and IR detectors

⚙️ Common Applications

  • 📱 RF Filters: Used in smartphones, 5G, and WiFi SAW/BAW devices.

  • 💡 Electro-Optic Modulators: Telecom-grade modulators and Pockels cells.

  • 🔁 Frequency Converters: SHG and THG in nonlinear optics.

  • 📷 Pyroelectric IR Sensors: Thermal and motion detection.

  • ⚙️ MEMS/NEMS: Piezo-actuators, resonators, and gyroscopes.

🏭 Why Order From UniversityWafer, Inc.?

  • ✅ ISO and RoHS compliant partner fabs

  • ✅ Academic and volume discounts

  • ✅ Quick turnaround and global delivery

  • ✅ Technical support for device R&D

 

Lithium Tantalate (LiTaO3) Wafers for Research and Production

LiTaO3 is a perovskite with unique optical properties.

Used in:

  • Non-linear Optics
  • Passive infrared sensors
  • Motion detectors
  • Terahertz generation and detection
  • Surface acoustic wave applications
  • Cell phones
  • Pyroelectric nuclear fusion

Please let us know what specs and quantity you would like us to quote?

Lithium Tantalate Motion Detector

What are Lithium Tantalate (LiTaO3) Substrates Used For?

Lithium Tantalate (LiTaO₃) is a ferroelectric and piezoelectric single-crystal material that’s widely used in optoelectronic, photonic, and RF (radio frequency) semiconductor devices due to its unique electro-optic, acousto-optic, piezoelectric, and nonlinear optical properties.

🔬 Material Properties of LiTaO₃

Property Value / Description
Crystal system Trigonal (R3c space group)
Melting point ~1650 °C
Transparency range 0.25–5.5 µm (UV to mid-IR)
Dielectric constant (ε) ~43 along z-axis
Electro-optic coefficient High (used in modulators and Pockels cells)
Piezoelectric coefficient Strong (used in SAW and BAW filters)
Coercive field Lower than LiNbO₃ (good for stable ferroelectric behavior)

Lithium Tantalate (LiTaO₃) wafer for RF filter and optical applications

⚙️ Semiconductor & Device Applications

Lithium Tantalate is not a "semiconductor" in the conventional sense (like silicon or GaN), but it's a critical substrate and functional material in many semiconductor-adjacent technologies.

📡 1. RF Filters (SAW & BAW Devices)

  • SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) and BAW (Bulk Acoustic Wave) filters for mobile phones, IoT, and 5G.

  • Excellent for high-frequency signal filtering due to low acoustic losses.

  • Z-cut and 36° Y-cut LiTaO₃ are popular in SAW applications.

🔁 2. Electro-Optic Modulators

  • Pockels effect in LiTaO₃ allows high-speed modulation of light.

  • Used in fiber optic telecom and Q-switching in lasers.

💡 3. Nonlinear Optical Devices

  • Used for frequency doubling (e.g., 1064 nm → 532 nm).

  • Less prone to photorefractive damage than LiNbO₃ at higher power levels.

🧠 4. Pyroelectric and Infrared Sensors

  • Converts IR radiation into an electrical signal.

  • Used in motion detectors, thermal cameras, and spectroscopy.

🧬 5. Thin Film Piezoelectric Layers (in MEMS)

  • Used in MEMS actuators, gyroscopes, and sensors.

  • Thin films of LiTaO₃ are being explored for integration on CMOS-compatible platforms.

🔄 Comparison with Lithium Niobate (LiNbO₃)

Feature LiTaO₃ LiNbO₃
Electro-optic effect Lower than LiNbO₃ Higher
Piezoelectricity Better for SAW due to higher stability More prone to photorefractive damage
Thermal stability Higher Lower

🧩 Common Substrate Forms

  • X-cut, Y-cut, and Z-cut wafers: orientation defines acoustic and optical properties.

  • Standard wafer sizes: 2"–6", polished or double-side polished, epi-ready available.

🛠️ Industry Use Cases

  • Telecom: RF front-end filters in smartphones (especially LiTaO₃ SAW filters).

  • Defense & Aerospace: Optical modulators and IR sensors.

  • Photonics research: Nonlinear optical generation and quantum optics.

  • Consumer electronics: Motion and IR detection in security systems.