Analysis of Ferromagnetic-Multiferroic Interfaces in Epitaxial Multilayers of LSMO and BFO

Abstract

Bilayers were fabricated from ferromagnetic LSMO (Lanthanum Strontium Manganate Oxide, La0.7Sr0.3MnO3) and ferroelectric BFO (Bismuth Ferrite, BiFeO3) using pulsed laser deposition in the presence of O2 on LaAlO3and SrTiO3 substrates. The layer thickness and the layer order were varied among 16 samples. The bilayers were analyzed using TEM, XRD, XRR, and XPS to determine the stoichiometry, interlayer diffusion, roughness, and other structural features. TEM imaging showed that portions of the bilayers were highly crystalline. However, XRD analysis demonstrated that the majority of films were amorphous, with some polycrystalline and nanocrystalline samples. XRR data indicated a high roughness but did not yield good thickness values. Finally, XPS confirmed that material stoichiometry was preserved. It appears that the deposition process still needs optimization. This research will serve as the basis for future experiments on the magnetic properties of LSMO/BFO bilayers.