Self-assembled epitaxial BiFeO3 nanostructures as a tailored platform for vertically aligned nanocomposites development

Abstract

We present the spontaneous growth of self-assembled epitaxial nanostructures of BiFeO3 (BFO) obtained by Pulsed Laser Deposition. TheBFO phase architectures of squares, stripes and pyramids were grown on (001), (110) and (111) SrTiO3 (STO) substrates, respectively. The morphology of the BFO nanostructures was determined by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy revealing their vertical alignment and self-assembled feature on the surface of the entire substrate. Structural analysis was made along in-plane and out-of-plane directions employing X-ray Diffraction. We determined the growth routes of BFO nanostructures and established a relationship between their morphology and structural properties. Suchself-ordered crystalline nanostructures could be used as a tailored platform for the deposition of the ferromagnetic phase, thus providing an alternative method for the fabrication of BFO-based multiferroic vertically aligned nanocomposites.