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A Three Component Self‐Assembled Epitaxial Nanocomposite Thin Film
Author(s) -
Kim Dong Hun,
Sun Xue Yin,
Aimon Nicolas M.,
Kim Jae Jin,
Campion Michael J.,
Tuller Harry L.,
Kornblum Lior,
Walker Fred J.,
Ahn Charles H.,
Ross Caroline A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201500332
Subject(s) - materials science , nanocomposite , epitaxy , phase (matter) , nanorod , nanopillar , pulsed laser deposition , perovskite (structure) , spinel , nanotechnology , thin film , chemical engineering , composite material , nanostructure , metallurgy , layer (electronics) , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
A self‐assembled three phase epitaxial nanocomposite film is grown consisting of ≈3 nm diameter fcc metallic Cu nanorods within square prismatic SrO rocksalt nanopillars in a Sr(Ti,Cu)O 3‐ δ perovskite matrix. Each phase has an epitaxial relation to the others. The core–shell‐matrix structures are grown on SrTiO 3 substrates and can also be integrated onto Si using a thin SrTiO 3 buffer. The structure is made by pulsed laser deposition in vacuum from a SrTi 0.75 Cu 0.25 O 3 target, and formed as a result of the limited solubility of Cu in the perovskite matrix. Wet etching removes the 3 nm diameter Cu nanowires leaving porous SrO pillars. The three‐phase nanocomposite film is used as a substrate for growing a second epitaxial nanocomposite consisting of CoFe 2 O 4 spinel pillars in a BiFeO 3 perovskite matrix, producing dramatic effects on the structure and magnetic properties of the CoFe 2 O 4 . This three‐phase vertical nanocomposite provides a complement to the well‐known two‐phase nanocomposites, and may offer a combination of properties of three different materials as well as additional avenues for strain‐mediated coupling within a single film.