Epitaxial thin film ZnFe2O4: a semi-transparent magnetic semiconductor with high Curie temperature

J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 41, 205004 (2008)

Y F Chen, D Spoddig and M Ziese

Abstract

Semi-transparent ZnFe2O4 films were fabricated by pulsed laser deposition on MgAl2O4substrates. Structural investigations showed epitaxial growth and a zinc-to-iron ratio of closeto 1 : 2. The films had a saturation magnetization between 0.2 T and 0.4 T at low temperaturesand a Curie temperature close to 600 K and were in either a ferrimagnetic or a cluster-glassstate. Resistivity measurements showed clear semiconducting behaviour with an activationenergy depending on oxygen partial pressure. Their ferrimagnetic, semiconducting andsemi-transparent properties make ZnFe2O4 films promising candidates for highCurie-temperature magnetic semiconductors.