Thin Film Study of YFeO3 Deposited Via Pulsed Laser Deposition for Use in Spintronic Applications

Recently, rare-earth orthoferrites have received much attention. Their propensity for multiferroic capabilities could play a key role in the fabrication of an efficient spintronic system. Such materials as BiFeO3 and CeFeO3 have already shown promise for uses in microphotonics as well as acting as spin valves, where YFeO3 has been shown to exhibit weak ferromagnetic tendencies in bulk. However, research conducted on the magnetic and electrical properties of YFeO3 thin films are sparse and in need of further investigation. Hence we have developed bulk YFeO3 for the purpose of investigating these thin film properties. Films will be grown via KrF Pulsed Laser Deposition on LaAlO3 substrates due to their similar lattice constant values and characterized via X-Ray Diffraction, Hall Effect Analysis and SQUID Magnetometer examinations. Previous SQUID results from the bulk material display an inverted hysteresis loop, indicating the existence of differing magnetic phases in bulk. Our goal is to examine the effects from thin film construction on these magnetic phases and examine whether thin films of YFeO3 exhibit a coupling between magnetic and electrical phases. This work is supported by National Science Foundation (Award Number DMR- 0907037).