Abstract:
Films of complex oxide materials deposited on single-crystal substrates by means of nebulized spray pyrolysis have been investigated for their epitaxial nature by employing X-ray rocking curve studies and high-resolution electron microscopy, the latter enabling a direct study of the interface between the film and the substrate. It has been demonstrated that films of metallic LaNiO3, ferroelectric Pb(Zr0.5Ti0.5)O-3, and La0.95Mn0.95O3 exhibiting giant magnetoresistance, deposited by nebulized spray pyrolysis on SrTiO3(100) or LaAlO3(100) are all epitaxial. Nebulized spray pyrolysis is a valuable inexpensive tool to deposit epitaxial films of complex oxide materials.