Individual-Layer Thickness Effects on the Preferred c-Axis-Oriented BiFeO3 Films by Chemical Solution Deposition.

BiFeO3 films are prepared directly on n-type Si (100) substrates using chemical solution deposition method. The effects of individual-layer thickness via controlling the solution concentration on the texture, morphology, magnetic properties as well as the magnetoelectric properties are investigated. It was first observed that the derived films are the highly preferred c-axis oriented on Si substrates. With decreasing individual-layer thickness, the c-axis texture is improved due to preferred nucleation at the interfaces. The magnetization and the dielectric constant is increased and decreased with decreasing individual-layer thickness, respectively. It is interesting to observe that the magnetoelectric coupling is obviously enhanced with decreasing individual-layer thickness, which is beneficial for potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]