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Structural characteristics of BiFeO3/LaNiO3 artificial superlattices prepared by rf magnetron sputtering

Hsin-Yi Lee ,  Yen-Ting Liu 

National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC), 101 Hsin-Ann Rd, Hsinchu Science Park, Hsinchu 30076, Taiwan

Abstract

Artificial superlattices consisting of multiferroic BiFeO3 (BFO) and conductive LaNiO3 (LNO) sublayers were epitaxial grown on SrTiO3 (001) single crystal substrates by a RF magnetron sputtering system. X-ray reflectivity and high-resolution diffraction measurements were employed to characterize the microstructure of these films. Formation of a superlattice structure was confirmed from the appearance of Bragg peaks separated by Kiessig fringes in x-ray reflectivity curves and a diffraction pattern. The clearly discernible main feature and satellite features on both sides of the substrate about the (002) SrTiO3 Bragg peak indicate the high quality of the BFO/LNO artificial superlattice structure formed on a SrTiO3 substrate. Azimuthal scans of a superlattice film in the vicinity of a surface peak and the substrate Bragg peak that clearly exhibit a four-fold symmetry with the same orientation provide firm evidence for an epitaxial relation between the film and the substrate. The fitted result from x-ray reflectivity curves shows that the densities of the BFO and LNO sublayers are slightly less than their bulk values. X-ray measurements show that these superlattice films become subject to greater tensile stress along the -axis, increased compressive stress parallel to the surface plane and increased crystalline quality with increasing temperature of deposition.

 

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Related papers

Presentation: Poster at E-MRS Fall Meeting 2009, Symposium I, by Hsin-Yi Lee
See On-line Journal of E-MRS Fall Meeting 2009

Submitted: 2009-04-21 10:43
Revised:   2009-06-07 00:48