Spin-lattice coupling in an epitaxial NdFeO3 thin film

• Published in: Materials letters 2022-02, Vol.309, p.131442, Article 131442
• Main Authors: Khaled, M.A., Ruvalcaba, J., Fraga Córdova, T., El Marssi, M., Bouyanfif, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antiferromagnetic; Antiferromagnetism; Condensed Matter; Coupling; Epitaxial strain; Magnetic measurement; Magnetic properties; Magnetism; Materials science; Physics; Pulsed laser deposition; Pulsed lasers; Rare earth elements; Room temperature; Structural stability; Structure; Temperature dependence; Thin films; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2021.131442

[Display omitted] •Parasitic free synthesis of NdFeO3 Orthoferrite thin film.•Tensile strain induced tetragonal state in NdFeO3 epitaxial thin film.•Evidence of strong spin lattice coupling in NdFeO3 thin film.•Néel Temperature determination of antiferromagnetic NdFeO3 thin film. Rare-earth orthoferrite RFeO3 materials such as NdFeO3 are strongly studied because of their fascinating magnetic properties and their potential applications. Here, we show the successful epitaxial synthesis of parasitic-free NFO thin film by pulsed laser deposition on (001)-SrTiO3. High-resolution X-ray diffraction shows a coherent growth and a tetragonal-like structure of a tensile strained 80 nm thick NFO film in contrast with the bulk orthorhombic state. Room temperature magnetometry indicates a bulk-like antiferromagnetic state for the NFO film. Temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction and magnetometry highlight a significant spin-lattice coupling at the Néel Temperature while a new magneto-structural instability is discovered around 250 °C that needs further investigation.