Controlled growth of epitaxial BiFeO_3 films using self-assembled BiFeO_3-CoFe_2O_4 multiferroic heterostructures as a template

摘要

The growth mechanism of a BiFeO_3 layer deposited on self assembled (0.65) BiFeO_3-(0.35) CoFe_2O_4 (BFO-CFO) composite thin films was studied. Epitaxial and self-assembled BFO-CFO thin films were deposited on SrTiO_3 (111) substrates by pulsed laser deposition and were subsequently used as a seed layer for the deposition of an additional BFO layer, x-ray line scans showed the heterostructures were highly epitaxial. Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy and focused ion beam images revealed the top BFO layer grew preferentially from BFO nanopillars in the BFO-CFO thin films, thus, demonstrating controlled growth. The multiferroic properties of this new nanostructure were then studied.