Structure and ferroelectric properties of YMnO3 thin films deposited on platinum electrodes

We have grown (0001)-oriented YMnO3 thin films on platinum electrodes using the pulsed laser deposition method. Single crystalline YMnO3 was also grow n. Hysteresis P - E loop, dielectric constant, and dielectric loss of YMnO3 thin films were systematically studied and compared with those of a single crystal. Only elliptical hysteresis loops were observed in films in contra st to a square hysteresis loop of a single crystal. The dielectric constant of both the film and the single crystal shows the same value. These result s indicate a possibility of YMnO3 as a nonvolatile memory material in a des tructive reading scheme.