Microstructure and magnetic properties of cobalt ferrite thin films

Abstract

In contrast to films grown on spinel structure substrates, epitaxial cobalt ferrite films grown on MgO substrates provide a model system to study the effects of microstructural defects on the magnetic properties. The anomalous magnetic behaviors observed in as-grown films are explained by the structural and magnetic disorder across the antiphase boundaries. During post deposition annealing, magnesium interdiffusion between the cobalt ferrite film and underlying substrate was observed and resulted in phase segregation.