Strain-Dependence of the Structure and Ferroic Properties of Epitaxial NiTiO ₃ Thin Films Grown on Different Substrates

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Advances in Condensed Matter Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/493045· OSTI ID:1210103

Varga, Tamas  ^[1]; Droubay, Timothy C. ^[2]; Bowden, Mark E. ^[1]; Kovarik, Libor ^[1]; Hu, Dehong ^[1]; Chambers, Scott A. ^[2]

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1. Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
2. Fundamental and Computational Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA

Polarization-induced weak ferromagnetism has been predicted a few years back in perovskite MTiO ₃ (M = Fe, Mn, and Ni). We set out to stabilize this metastable perovskite structure by growing NiTiO ₃ epitaxially on different substrates and to investigate the dependence of polar and magnetic properties on strain. Epitaxial NiTiO ₃ films were deposited on Al ₂ O ₃ , Fe ₂ O ₃ , and LiNbO ₃ substrates by pulsed laser deposition and characterized using several techniques. The effect of substrate choice on lattice strain, film structure, and physical properties was investigated. Our structural data from X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy shows that substrate-induced strain has a marked effect on the structure and crystalline quality of the films. Physical property measurements reveal a dependence of the weak ferromagnetism and lattice polarization on strain and highlight our ability to control the ferroic properties in NiTiO ₃ thin films by the choice of substrate. Our results are also consistent with the theoretical prediction that the ferromagnetism in acentric NiTiO ₃ is polarization induced. From the substrates studied here, the perovskite substrate LiNbO ₃ proved to be the most promising one for strong multiferroism.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 1210103
• Journal Information: Advances in Condensed Matter Physics, Journal Name: Advances in Condensed Matter Physics Vol. 2015; ISSN 1687-8108
• Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation
• Country of Publication: Egypt
• Language: English