SAW Grade Lithium Niobate Wafers

Lithium Niobate (LiNbO3) is a useful optoelectronic material. The material not only has unique piezoelectric, optical and photoelastic properties, but also has good mechanical and chemical stability. Its combination of excellent electro-optic, acoustooptic and nonlinear optical properties makes it an attractive material in integrated optics.

CQT provides up to 6" diameter, single crystal Optical grade LN material with reduced impurity levels. Other specifications can be provided are doped wafers: Er:LN, MgO:LN and Fe:LN.

The most used SAW orientations are YZ-cut and 128°Y-cut, best fit for television transmission and reception signal processing. The 128°Y-cut with X propagation is said to have the lowest spurious signal level.

Lithium Niobate (LN) is a ferroelectric material with excellent electro-optic, nonlinear, and piezoelectric properties. Lithium niobate crystals are important materials for optical waveguides, mobile phones, piezoelectric sensors, optical modulators and various other linear and non-linear optical applications.

The largest use of Lithium Niobate (LN) is in SAW devices used in telecommunication devices. When voice communication and data communication are performed, SAW devices such as SAW filters and SAW duplexers are mounted in communication devices as filters for preventing noise and interference. Lithium Niobate (LN) crystals are also used in optical applications.

SAW Grade Lithium Niobate Wafers are high-purity single crystal substrates specifically engineered for Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) device fabrication. As one of the most important functional materials in modern electronics and photonics, Lithium Niobate (LiNbO₃) combines excellent piezoelectric, electro-optic, nonlinear optical, and acousto-optic properties with outstanding mechanical and chemical stability. This unique combination makes LN an ideal material for both high-performance acoustic devices and integrated optical systems.

Lithium Niobate is a ferroelectric crystal with strong piezoelectric coupling, enabling highly efficient conversion between electrical signals and mechanical acoustic waves. This property is the fundamental reason why SAW Grade Lithium Niobate Wafers are widely used in telecommunication systems, especially in SAW filters, resonators, and duplexers. These components play a critical role in voice and data transmission by filtering unwanted noise, reducing signal interference, and ensuring stable frequency control in mobile phones, base stations, wireless modules, and RF systems.

Among different crystal orientations, YZ-cut and 128°Y-cut Lithium Niobate Wafers are the most commonly used for SAW applications. The 128°Y-cut with X-axis propagation is particularly valued because it provides an optimal balance between electromechanical coupling and temperature stability, while also offering one of the lowest spurious signal levels. This makes it the preferred choice for television broadcasting systems, wireless communication filters, and high-frequency signal processing devices.

SAW Grade Lithium Niobate Wafers supplied by CQT are manufactured from optical-grade single crystals with reduced impurity levels, ensuring excellent crystal uniformity, low defect density, and high surface quality. Wafer diameters are available up to 6 inches, supporting both R&D and mass production of advanced SAW devices. The high material purity directly contributes to improved device consistency, higher yield, and longer operational lifetime.

Beyond SAW technology, Lithium Niobate is also a core material in integrated optics. Its outstanding electro-optic and nonlinear optical coefficients make it widely used in optical modulators, optical waveguides, frequency converters, and photonic integrated circuits. In addition, LN is commonly applied in piezoelectric sensors, acousto-optic modulators, laser systems, and various linear and nonlinear optical devices.

CQT also provides a full range of doped Lithium Niobate Wafers, including MgO:LN for enhanced laser damage resistance, Er:LN for optical amplification, and Fe:LN for photorefractive applications. These customized doping options allow SAW Grade and Optical Grade LN wafers to meet specific functional requirements across different industries.

With high piezoelectric performance, excellent frequency response, low signal distortion, and proven long-term stability, SAW Grade Lithium Niobate Wafers remain the industry standard substrate for telecommunication filters, RF front-end modules, and high-frequency acoustic devices. They are a key enabling material for modern wireless communication, smart electronics, and next-generation photonic technologies.