Impact of Structural Strain in Perovskite Epitaxial Thin Films on Their Functional Properties
The strain engineering effects induced by different means, e.g., the substrate lattice mismatch and/or chemical doping, on the functional properties of perovskite thin films have triggered interest in the use of these materials in different applications such as energy storage/generation or photonics...
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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author | Florin Andrei Maria Dinescu Valentin Ion Floriana Craciun Ruxandra Birjega Nicu Doinel Scarisoreanu |
author_facet | Florin Andrei Maria Dinescu Valentin Ion Floriana Craciun Ruxandra Birjega Nicu Doinel Scarisoreanu |
author_sort | Florin Andrei |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The strain engineering effects induced by different means, e.g., the substrate lattice mismatch and/or chemical doping, on the functional properties of perovskite thin films have triggered interest in the use of these materials in different applications such as energy storage/generation or photonics. The effects of the film’s thickness and strain state of the structure for the lead-free perovskite ferrite-based materials (BiFeO<sub>3</sub>-BFO; Y-doped BiFeO<sub>3</sub>-BYFO; LaFeO<sub>3</sub>-LFO) on their functional properties are highlighted here. As was previously demonstrated, the dielectric properties of BFO epitaxial thin films are strongly affected by the film thickness and by the epitaxial strain induced by the lattice mismatch between substrate and film. Doping the BiFeO<sub>3</sub> ferroelectric perovskite with rare-earth elements or inducing a high level of structural deformation into the crystalline structure of LaFeO<sub>3</sub> thin films have allowed the tuning of functional properties of these materials, such as dielectric, optical or photocatalytic ones. These changes are presented in relation to the appearance of complex ensembles of nanoscale phase/nanodomains within the epitaxial films due to strain engineering. However, it is a challenge to maintain the same level of epitaxial strain present in ultrathin films (<10 nm) and to preserve or tune the positive effects in films of thicknesses usually higher than 30 nm. |
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spelling | doaj.art-082425603af246e1b47bc69a6ebaaf5d2023-12-22T14:02:00ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522023-12-011312168610.3390/cryst13121686Impact of Structural Strain in Perovskite Epitaxial Thin Films on Their Functional PropertiesFlorin Andrei0Maria Dinescu1Valentin Ion2Floriana Craciun3Ruxandra Birjega4Nicu Doinel Scarisoreanu5National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Photoplasmat Center (C400) and Laser Department, 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Photoplasmat Center (C400) and Laser Department, 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Photoplasmat Center (C400) and Laser Department, 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125 Magurele, RomaniaCNR-ISM, Istituto di Struttura della Materia, Area della Ricerca di Roma-Tor Vergata, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, I-00133 Rome, ItalyNational Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Photoplasmat Center (C400) and Laser Department, 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Photoplasmat Center (C400) and Laser Department, 409 Atomistilor Street, RO-077125 Magurele, RomaniaThe strain engineering effects induced by different means, e.g., the substrate lattice mismatch and/or chemical doping, on the functional properties of perovskite thin films have triggered interest in the use of these materials in different applications such as energy storage/generation or photonics. The effects of the film’s thickness and strain state of the structure for the lead-free perovskite ferrite-based materials (BiFeO<sub>3</sub>-BFO; Y-doped BiFeO<sub>3</sub>-BYFO; LaFeO<sub>3</sub>-LFO) on their functional properties are highlighted here. As was previously demonstrated, the dielectric properties of BFO epitaxial thin films are strongly affected by the film thickness and by the epitaxial strain induced by the lattice mismatch between substrate and film. Doping the BiFeO<sub>3</sub> ferroelectric perovskite with rare-earth elements or inducing a high level of structural deformation into the crystalline structure of LaFeO<sub>3</sub> thin films have allowed the tuning of functional properties of these materials, such as dielectric, optical or photocatalytic ones. These changes are presented in relation to the appearance of complex ensembles of nanoscale phase/nanodomains within the epitaxial films due to strain engineering. However, it is a challenge to maintain the same level of epitaxial strain present in ultrathin films (<10 nm) and to preserve or tune the positive effects in films of thicknesses usually higher than 30 nm.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/12/1686strain engineeringepitaxial thin filmsferroelectric perovskite thin films |
spellingShingle | Florin Andrei Maria Dinescu Valentin Ion Floriana Craciun Ruxandra Birjega Nicu Doinel Scarisoreanu Impact of Structural Strain in Perovskite Epitaxial Thin Films on Their Functional Properties Crystals strain engineering epitaxial thin films ferroelectric perovskite thin films |
title | Impact of Structural Strain in Perovskite Epitaxial Thin Films on Their Functional Properties |
title_full | Impact of Structural Strain in Perovskite Epitaxial Thin Films on Their Functional Properties |
title_fullStr | Impact of Structural Strain in Perovskite Epitaxial Thin Films on Their Functional Properties |
title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Structural Strain in Perovskite Epitaxial Thin Films on Their Functional Properties |
title_short | Impact of Structural Strain in Perovskite Epitaxial Thin Films on Their Functional Properties |
title_sort | impact of structural strain in perovskite epitaxial thin films on their functional properties |
topic | strain engineering epitaxial thin films ferroelectric perovskite thin films |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/12/1686 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT florinandrei impactofstructuralstraininperovskiteepitaxialthinfilmsontheirfunctionalproperties AT mariadinescu impactofstructuralstraininperovskiteepitaxialthinfilmsontheirfunctionalproperties AT valentinion impactofstructuralstraininperovskiteepitaxialthinfilmsontheirfunctionalproperties AT florianacraciun impactofstructuralstraininperovskiteepitaxialthinfilmsontheirfunctionalproperties AT ruxandrabirjega impactofstructuralstraininperovskiteepitaxialthinfilmsontheirfunctionalproperties AT nicudoinelscarisoreanu impactofstructuralstraininperovskiteepitaxialthinfilmsontheirfunctionalproperties |