Shoulong Chen, Carlos Frontera, Meritxell Toda-Casaban, Alberto Pomar, Lluis Balcells, Zorica Konstantinovic, Cesar Magén, Benjamin Martinez, Narcis Mestres
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
This study reports on the epitaxial growth and structural characterization of ultrathin NiO-films deposited by magnetron sputtering on La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 (LSMO) films grown on SrTiO3 (STO) substrates with (001)- and (111)-orientations. X-ray diffraction and atomic-force microscopy show that all NiO layers are single-phase, face-centered pseudo-cubic, atomically smooth, root-main-square (RMS) surface roughness <0.15 nm, and form abrupt interfaces with LSMO. High-resolution reciprocal-space maps reveal that the films are largely relaxed, but exhibit a slight compressive distortion, yielding unit-cell volumes larger than bulk NiO. Despite a nominal ≈7% lattice mismatch, aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy uncovers an array of misfit dislocations at the NiO/LSMO interface that help to accommodate strain allowing epitaxial growth of NiO layers. On (001)-oriented samples, the four antiferromagnetic T-domains are oblique to the sample plane, while on the (111) case, one lies in-plane. This in-plane domain shows greater spacing between ferromagnetic (111) planes due to unit cell distortion. This structural domain splitting can influence magnetic order and spin transmission efficiency, highlighting crystallographic orientation as a key factor in designing high-performance spintronic devices.
期刊介绍:
Advanced Materials Interfaces publishes top-level research on interface technologies and effects. Considering any interface formed between solids, liquids, and gases, the journal ensures an interdisciplinary blend of physics, chemistry, materials science, and life sciences. Advanced Materials Interfaces was launched in 2014 and received an Impact Factor of 4.834 in 2018.
The scope of Advanced Materials Interfaces is dedicated to interfaces and surfaces that play an essential role in virtually all materials and devices. Physics, chemistry, materials science and life sciences blend to encourage new, cross-pollinating ideas, which will drive forward our understanding of the processes at the interface.
Advanced Materials Interfaces covers all topics in interface-related research:
Oil / water separation,
Applications of nanostructured materials,
2D materials and heterostructures,
Surfaces and interfaces in organic electronic devices,
Catalysis and membranes,
Self-assembly and nanopatterned surfaces,
Composite and coating materials,
Biointerfaces for technical and medical applications.
Advanced Materials Interfaces provides a forum for topics on surface and interface science with a wide choice of formats: Reviews, Full Papers, and Communications, as well as Progress Reports and Research News.