Structural expansion and suppression of spiral spin state in Pb-doped BiFeO 3 (00l) epitaxial thin films
Journal
Journal of Applied Physics
Journal Volume
111
Journal Issue
7
Date Issued
2012
Author(s)
Abstract
We demonstrate that Pb-doped BiFeO3 thin films grown on a strain relaxed SrRuO3 bottom layer on SrTiO3 (STO) substrate undergo a structural expansion effect that is highly dependent on growth temperature, TS. Highly symmetric cubic-like or low symmetric tetragonal structures can be grown at lower TS (= 650 °C) and higher TS (= 700 °C), respectively. The structural expansion and changes in symmetry provide the iron ion with a non-vanished orbital quenching effect, which produces the strong spin-orbital coupling that suppresses the spiral spin structure and initiates a canted antiferromagnetic phase with a larger net saturated magnetic moment at room temperature.
Type
journal article