Fabrication and ferroelectric properties of BiFeO3/LaNiO3 artificial superlattice structures grown by radio-frequency magnetron-sputtering

• Published in: Thin solid films Vol. 529; pp. 66 - 70
• Main Authors: Liu, Yen-Ting, Chiu, Shang-Jui, Lee, Hsin-Yi, Chen, San-Yuan
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.02.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Compressive properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Deposition by sputtering; Diffraction patterns; Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic properties; Materials science; Methods of deposition of films and coatings; film growth and epitaxy; Physics; Polarization; RF sputtering; Strontium titanates; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Superlattice; Superlattice structures; Superlattices; X-ray diffraction and scattering; X-ray scattering; X-ray scattering (including small-angle scattering); X-rays; X-ray scattering; RF sputtering; Superlattice; Bismuth Iron Oxides Mixed; XRD; Leakage currents; Lanthanum oxide; Thin films; Hysteresis loop; Compressive stress; Tensile stress; Ferroelectric materials; Superlattices; Physical vapor deposition; Niobium additions; Satellite lines; Nickel oxide; Radiofrequency sputtering
• ISSN: 0040-6090; 1879-2731
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2012.07.073

Symmetric superlattice structures of multiferroic BiFeO3 and conductive LaNiO3 sublayers were grown on a Nb-doped SrTiO3 substrate with radio-frequency magnetron-sputtering. The formation of a superlattice structure was confirmed from the appearance of satellite lines on both sides of the main line in the X-ray diffraction pattern. X-ray measurements show that these superlattice films become subject to greater tensile stress along the c-axis and to increased compressive stress parallel to the surface plane with a decreasing thickness of the sublayer. The smaller is the thickness of the sublayer, the greater is the crystalline quality and the strain state. The hysteresis loops show a large leakage current at frequencies of 0.5 and 1kHz; the polarization decreases with an increasing frequency. ► BiFeO3/LaNiO3 (BFO/LNO) superlattices structure was fabricated with rf sputtering. ► X-ray result shows the high quality of the BFO/LNO superlattice structures. ► The smaller is the thickness of sublayer, the greater is the crystalline quality. ► Large dc leakage and extrinsic interface effect on the shape of the hysteresis loops.