Oriented Y-type hexagonal ferrite thin films prepared by chemical solution deposition

Thin films of Ba2Zn2Fe12O22 (Y) hexaferrite were prepared through the chemical solution deposition method on SrTiO3(1 1 1) (ST) single crystal substrates using epitaxial SrFe12O19 (M) hexaferrite thin layer as a seed template layer. The process of crystallization was mainly investigated by means of X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. A detailed inspection revealed that growth of seed layer starts through the break-up of initially continuous film into isolated grains with expressive shape anisotropy and hexagonal habit. The vital parameters of the seed layer, i.e. thickness, substrate coverage, crystallization conditions and temperature ramp were optimized with the aim to obtain epitaxially crystallized Y phase. X-ray diffraction Pole figure measurements and Phi scans reveal perfect parallel in-plane alignment of SrTiO3 substrate and both hexaferrite phases. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.