Synthesis of multiferroic Er-Fe-O thin films by atomic layer and chemical vapor deposition

Journal Article · Wed May 07 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4865774· OSTI ID:22273825

Vangelista, S.; Wiemer, C.; Lamperti, A.; Tallarida, G. ^[1]; Chikoidze, E.; Dumont, Y. ^[2]; Fanciulli, M. ^[1]

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1. Laboratorio MDM IMM-CNR, I-20864 Agrate Brianza (MB) (Italy)
2. GEMaC, Université de Versailles St. Quentin en Yvelines-CNRS, Versailles (France)

R-Fe-O (R = rare earth) compounds have recently attracted high interest as potential new multiferroic materials. Here, we report a method based on the solid-state reaction between Er{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Fe layers, respectively grown by atomic layer deposition and chemical vapor deposition, to synthesize Er-Fe-O thin films. The reaction is induced by thermal annealing and evolution of the formed phases is followed by in situ grazing incidence X-ray diffraction. Dominant ErFeO{sub 3} and ErFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} phases develop following subsequent thermal annealing processes at 850 °C in air and N{sub 2}. Structural, chemical, and morphological characterization of the layers are conducted through X-ray diffraction and reflectivity, time-of-flight secondary ion-mass spectrometry, and atomic force microscopy. Magnetic properties are evaluated by magnetic force microscopy, conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer, being consistent with the presence of the phases identified by X-ray diffraction. Our results constitute a first step toward the use of cost-effective chemical methods for the synthesis of this class of multiferroic thin films.

• OSTI ID: 22273825
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 115, Issue 17; Conference: 55. annual conference on magnetism and magnetic materials, Atlanta, GA (United States), 14-18 Nov 2010; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ANNEALING
ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
ELECTRONS
ERBIUM OXIDES
IRON COMPOUNDS
LAYERS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MOESSBAUER EFFECT
REFLECTIVITY
THIN FILMS
TIME-OF-FLIGHT METHOD
VIBRATING SAMPLE MAGNETOMETERS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION