LITHIUM FERRITE EPITAXIAL-FILMS GROWN BY PULSED-LASER DEPOSITION - STRUCTURAL AND ELECTRICAL-TRANSPORT PROPERTIES

We show that good quality epitaxial films of magnetic lithium ferrite (both pure and Mn,Zn substituted) can be grown by pulsed laser deposit ion technique either using a XeCl excimer laser or a Nd-YAG laser. The use of the excimer laser allows to grow films with a better surface m orphology. Furthermore, energy dispersive X-ray analysis shows that, f or Mn,Zn substituted lithium ferrites, the target composition is well reproduced in the film. The as-grown electrical resistivity (about 10( 4) Omega cm(-1)) and its activation energy are typical of well compens ated spinels. A further increase of resistivity and activation energy is obtained by suitable thermal treatments in oxygen atmosphere. Howev er such treatments do not affect the linewidth of the ferromagnetic re sonance.