Reduction-Induced Magnetic Behavior in LaFeO<sub>3−δ</sub> Thin Films

The effect of oxygen reduction on the magnetic properties of LaFeO<sub>3−δ</sub> (LFO) thin films was studied to better understand the viability of LFO as a candidate for magnetoionic memory. Differences in the amount of oxygen lost by LFO and its magnetic behavior were observed in nomin...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nathan D. Arndt, Eitan Hershkovitz, Labdhi Shah, Kristoffer Kjærnes, Chao-Yao Yang, Purnima P. Balakrishnan, Mohammed S. Shariff, Shaun Tauro, Daniel B. Gopman, Brian J. Kirby, Alexander J. Grutter, Thomas Tybell, Honggyu Kim, Ryan F. Need
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-03-01
Series:Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/5/1188
Description
Summary:The effect of oxygen reduction on the magnetic properties of LaFeO<sub>3−δ</sub> (LFO) thin films was studied to better understand the viability of LFO as a candidate for magnetoionic memory. Differences in the amount of oxygen lost by LFO and its magnetic behavior were observed in nominally identical LFO films grown on substrates prepared using different common methods. In an LFO film grown on <i>as-received</i> SrTiO<sub>3</sub> (STO) substrate, the original perovskite film structure was preserved following reduction, and remnant magnetization was only seen at low temperatures. In a LFO film grown on <i>annealed</i> STO, the LFO lost significantly more oxygen and the microstructure decomposed into La- and Fe-rich regions with remnant magnetization that persisted up to room temperature. These results demonstrate an ability to access multiple, distinct magnetic states via oxygen reduction in the same starting material and suggest LFO may be a suitable materials platform for nonvolatile multistate memory.
ISSN:1996-1944