Synthesis of Samarium Nitride Thin Films on Magnesium Oxide (001) Substrates Using Molecular Beam Epitaxy

Vallejo, Kevin D.; Cresswell, Zachery E.; Buturlim, Volodymyr; Newell, Brian S.; Gofryk, Krzysztof; May, Brelon J.

doi:10.3390/cryst14090765

Synthesis of Samarium Nitride Thin Films on Magnesium Oxide (001) Substrates Using Molecular Beam Epitaxy

Journal Article · Wed Aug 28 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · Crystals

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst14090765· OSTI ID:2438384

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Rare-earth nitrides are an exciting family of materials with a wide variety of properties desirable for new physics and applications in spintronics and superconducting devices. Among them, samarium nitride is an interesting compound reported to have ferromagnetic behavior coupled with the potential existence of p-wave superconductivity. Synthesis of high-quality thin films is essential in order to manifest these behaviors and understand the impact that vacancies, structural distortions, and doping can have on these properties. In this study, we report the synthesis of samarium nitride monocrystalline thin films on magnesium oxide (001) substrates with a chromium nitride capping layer using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). We observed a high-quality monocrystalline SmN film with matching orientation to the substrate, then optimized the growth temperature. Despite the initial 2 nm of growth showing formation of a potential samarium oxide layer, the subsequent layers showed high-quality SmN, with semiconducting behavior revealed by an increase in resistivity with decreasing temperature. These promising results highlight the importance of studying diverse heteroepitaxial schemes and open the door for integration of rare-earth nitrides and transition metal nitrides for future spintronic devices.

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Research Organization:: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program

Grant/Contract Number:: AC07-05ID14517

OSTI ID:: 2438384

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2519640

Report Number(s):: INL/JOU--24-79928-Rev000; PII: cryst14090765

Journal Information:: Crystals, Journal Name: Crystals Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 14; ISSN CRYSBC; ISSN 2073-4352

Publisher:: MDPI AGCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: Germany

Language:: English

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
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molecular beam epitaxy
rare-earth nitrides
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Synthesis of Samarium Nitride Thin Films on Magnesium Oxide (001) Substrates Using Molecular Beam Epitaxy

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