Self-assembling behavior and interface structure in vertically aligned nanocomposite (Pr0.5Ba0.5MnO3)1-x:(CeO2)x films on (001) (La,Sr)(Al,Ta)O3 substrates

Shao-Dong Cheng,Ming Liu,Lu Lu,Yanzhu Dai,Sheng Cheng,Lvkang Shen,Shao-Bo Mi,Sheng-Qiang Wu

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-59166-1

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Journal: Scientific Reports	Publication Date: Feb 11, 2020
Citations: 4	License type: open-access

Affiliation: Xi'an Jiaotong University

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Heteroepitaxial oxide-based nanocomposite films possessing a variety of functional properties have attracted tremendous research interest. Here, self-assembled vertically aligned nanocomposite (Pr0.5Ba0.5MnO3)1-x:(CeO2)x (x = 0.2 and 0.5) films have been successfully grown on single-crystalline (001) (La,Sr)(Al,Ta)O3 substrates by the pulsed laser deposition technique. Self-assembling behavior of the nanocomposite films and atomic-scale interface structure between Pr0.5Ba0.5MnO3 matrix and CeO2 nanopillars have been investigated by advanced electron microscopy techniques. Two different orientation relationships, (001)[100]Pr0.5Ba0.5MnO3//(001)[1-10]CeO2 and (001)[100]Pr0.5Ba0.5MnO3//(110)[1-10]CeO2, form between Pr0.5Ba0.5MnO3 and CeO2 in the (Pr0.5Ba0.5MnO3)0.8:(CeO2)0.2 film along the film growth direction, which is essentially different from vertically aligned nanocomposite (Pr0.5Ba0.5MnO3)0.5:(CeO2)0.5 films having only (001)[100]Pr0.5Ba0.5MnO3//(001)[1-10]CeO2 orientation relationship. Both coherent and semi-coherent Pr0.5Ba0.5MnO3/CeO2 interface appear in the films. In contrast to semi-coherent interface with regular distribution of interfacial dislocations, interface reconstruction occurs at the coherent Pr0.5Ba0.5MnO3/CeO2 interface. Our findings indicate that epitaxial strain imposed by the concentration of CeO2 in the nanocomposite films affects the self-assembling behavior of the vertically aligned nanocomposite (Pr0.5Ba0.5MnO3)1-x:(CeO2)x films.

Highlights

Complex oxide-based nanocomposite films have attracted considerable research interest due to a variety of functional properties, such as multiferroicity1, superconductivity2–4, ferromagnetism5, and ferroelectricity6
It was found that the self-assembling behavior and the physical properties of the vertically aligned nanocomposite (VAN) films can be influenced by the phase composition9,11 and the film growth parameters
We focus our research interest on film-growth behaviors and heterointerface structure investigated by advanced electron microscopy techniques

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Introduction

Complex oxide-based nanocomposite films have attracted considerable research interest due to a variety of functional properties, such as multiferroicity1, superconductivity2–4, ferromagnetism5, and ferroelectricity6. Atomic-scale structure and chemical composition of the PBMO/CeO2 interface, and strain relaxation behavior of the (PBMO)1-x:(CeO2)x films on (001)-oriented (La,Sr)(Al,Ta)O3 (LSAT) substrates have not been investigated. The PBMO/CeO2 interface is semi-coherent and interfacial dislocations are observed, as demonstrated by horizontal red arrows.

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