Growth and characterization of multiferroic multilayers based on manganites grown by PLD

• Grant number: 14/07835-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Effective date (Start): February 01, 2015
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Claudio Antonio Cardoso
• Grantee: Claudio Antonio Cardoso
• Host Investigator: Maryline Guilloux-Viry
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Université de Rennes 1, France
• Associated research grant: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Multiferroics have attracted a lot of attention from the scientific comunity because of its potential for applications in spintronics, data storage devices and multiple states memories. in order to obtain materials with higher room temperature magnetoelectric coupling, more suitable for applications, it is necessary to explore extrinsic multiferroics, which are composites formed by two distinct phases, one piezoelectric and other magnetostrictive. In this research project we propose the growth and characterization of manganite-based multiferroic composites. Our multilayered composite will be formed by La0.7Ba0.3MnO3 electrodes separated by one layer of (K,Na)(Ta,Nb)O3. The composites will be grown by pulsed laser deposition - PLD, which produce high quality thin films of oxide materials. All targets will be prepared following a solid phase reaction route. Before sintering the targets, part of the obtained powder will be characterized to check phase formation. The targets will be used to grow multilayers by PLD. The best deposition parameters and target composition will be determined and the final strucutres will be characterized structuraly and physically to get a better understanding of those composites and how to optimize their properties of interest. Structural and microstructural characterizations of the films will be performed by X-Ray Diffraction (with a 4-circles texture XRD), FE-SEM, TEM and AFM. EDX and EBSD analyses will be also performed. Physical characterization should include magnetic and ferroelectric characterization and measurements of the magnetoelectric coupling. The french group (Rennes Institute of Chemical Science, CSM team) has experience in KTN thin films by PLD for several years, from which we will take benefit in order to start the deposition in view of the fine control of the composites. Some single layer of other manganites were also deposited in the French lab by PLD giving evidence of the suitablity of the experimental setup for this purpose. Moreover the proponent of this Project also has experience with deposition of manganite thin films, acquired during his post-doc wotk at the University of Maryland, USA, in 2004. In France we should have access to all facilities belonging to our French partners: the PLD system itself, X-Ray Diffraction with a 4-circles texture, FE-SEM, EDX, EBSD, TEM, and AFM/MFM. Besides that we count with the support from the Centro de Desenvolvimento de Materiais Funcionais (CEPID/FAPESP, UFSCar) and collaborations with other groups in our department (DF/UFSCar). (AU)