Structure and microstructure of epitaxial Sr_nFe_nO_3n−1films

Abstract

Thin films of SrFeO3 − x (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) (SFO) grown on a (LaAlO3)0.3 (SrAl0.5Ta0.5O3)0.7 (LSAT) substrate by pulsed laser deposition have been structurally investigated by electron diffraction and high resolution transmission electron microscopy for different post-deposition oxygen treatments. During the deposition and post-growth oxidation, the oxygen-reduced SFO films accept extra oxygen along the tetrahedral layers to minimize the elastic strain energy. The oxidation process stops at a concentration SFO2.875 and/or SFO2.75 because a zero misfit with the LSAT substrate is reached. A possible growth mechanism and phase transition mechanism are suggested. The non-oxidized films exhibit twin boundaries having a local perovskite-type structure with a nominal composition close to SFO3.