Dielectric anomaly and magnetic response of epitaxial orthorhombic YMnO3 thin films

• Published in: Journal of materials research Vol. 22; no. 8; pp. 2096 - 2101
• Main Authors: Martí, X., Skumryev, V., Laukhin, V., Sánchez, F., García-Cuenca, M.V., Ferrater, C., Varela, M., Fontcuberta, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01-08-2007; Materials Research Society
• Subjects: Dielectrics; Dielèctrics; Ferroelectric; Ferromagnetic; Magnetic properties; Oxides; Pel·lícules fines; Propietats magnètiques; Thin film; Thin films; Òxids; Ferroelectric; Ferromagnetic; Thin film
• ISSN: 0884-2914; 2044-5326
• DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2007.0264

The structure, magnetic response, and dielectric response of the grown epitaxial thin films of the orthorhombic phase of YMnO3 oxide on Nb:SrTiO3 (001) substrates have been measured. We have found that a substrate-induced strain produces an in-plane compression of the YMnO3 unit cell. The magnetization versus temperature curves display a significant zero-field cooling (ZFC)-field cooling hysteresis below the Néel temperature (TN ≈ 45 K). The dielectric constant increases gradually (up to 26%) below the TN and mimics the ZFC magnetization curve. We argue that these effects could be a manifestation of magnetoelectric coupling in YMnO3 thin films and that the magnetic structure of YMnO3 can be controlled by substrate selection and/or growth conditions.