Synthesis, Structure, and Spectroscopy of Epitaxial EuFeO ₃ Thin Films

Journal Article · Wed Mar 04 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Crystal Growth and Design

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/cg501403m· OSTI ID:1391715

Choquette, Amber K.; Colby, Robert; Moon, Eun Ju; Schlepütz, Christian M.; Scafetta, Mark D.; Keavney, David J.; May, Steven J.

Rare earth iron perovskites RFeO3, where R is a rare earth cation, exhibit an array of magnetic, catalytic, optical, and electrochemical properties. Here we study EuFeO3 films synthesized by molecular beam epitaxy to improve our understanding of the optical properties of ferrites. A combination of X-ray diffraction, X-ray reflectivity, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, and scanning transmission electron microscopy was used to characterize the film structure and cation composition. X-ray absorption spectroscopy confirms the nominal 3+ valence states of Eu and Fe. The optical properties of EuFeO3 were investigated using variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry between the photon energies of 1.25 and 5 eV. We find that EuFeO3 is a semiconductor with an onset of optical absorption near 2.5 eV. The absorption spectrum of EuFeO3 is blue-shifted with respect to LaFeO3 films, a result that is attributed to the structural differences between the two materials.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science - Office of Biological and Environmental Research
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1391715
• Journal Information: Crystal Growth and Design, Vol. 15, Issue 3; ISSN 1528-7483
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English