The layered-perovskite ferroelectric Bi3TiNbO9 (BTN) optical waveguiding thin films have been prepared on filsed silica substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). X-ray 0-20 scans revealed that the films are single-phase perovskite and highly (001) textured. The wavelength dependence of the transmittance of the films was determined. We obtained an average transmittance of 75% in the wavelength range of 400-1100 nm and the band gap E-g=3.55 eV The optical waveguiding properties of the films were characterized by using prism-coupling method. The distinct m lines of the guided transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) modes of the BTN films waveguide have been observed. The cross sectional morphology of the film was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.