Epitaxial strain-induced changes in the cation distribution and resistivity of Fe-doped CoFe2O4.

The distribution of cations in Fe-doped cobalt ferrite (Co1-xFe2+xO4) is investigated as a function of epitaxial strain through x-ray absorption measurements of samples grown on SrTiO3, MgO, and CoCr2O4-buffered MgAl2O4 (001). In agreement with recent theoretical calculations, compressive (tensile) strain results in the films having a larger (smaller) degree of cation inversion for iron doping levels up to x = 0.62. Measurements of the resistivity further conclude that the degree of cation inversion has a direct effect on the size of the bandgap for stoichiometric CoFe2O4, an effect that is reduced as the iron doping level is increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]