Crystalline domains in epitaxial Y(Ni0.5Mn0.5)O-3 thin films grown by PLD on different STO substrates

摘要

Thin films of ferromagnetic Y(Ni0.5Mn0.5)O-3 (YNMO) perovskite were grown on different SrTiO3 (STO) substrate orientations [i.e. (0 0 1), (1 1 0) and (1 1 1)] by means of pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and their morphological and functional properties were studied and characterized. Optimal deposition parameters were identified and their individual influence on the quality of the films was also addressed. Films showed a single out-of-plane orientation in all the substrate scenarios, while the in-plane texture in STO(0 0 1) and STO(1 1 1) show two and three in plane domains, respectively. Growth mechanism and morphology were studied by HRTEM and AFM. As a result, a clear 3D growth mechanism was identified and a direct correlation between the two in-plane crystalline domains on the surface morphology of the sample was observed. Magnetic response of the films was investigated as a function of their crystalline properties. The films were found to have a paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition around 90 K consistent with their bulk counterparts. Finally, the discrepancies on the epitaxial growth between YMnO3 (YMO) and YMNO thin films were clarified and tabulated, giving a clear picture of the effect of Ni substitution in the epitaxial and crystalline properties of manganites of this family. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.