Enhanced magnetic properties of NiFe2O4 thin films deposited on BCZT-buffered SrTiO3 substrate.

In this study, NiFe₂O₄ films were deposited on the Ba_0.85Ca_0.15Zr_0.9Ti_0.1O₃ (BCZT)-buffered SrTiO₃ substrate by pulsed laser deposition, and the effect of the thickness of the layer on the rearrangement of cations and magnetic property of the NiFe₂O₄ films was explored. All NiFe₂O₄ films were grown epitaxially along the c-axis orientation and exhibited a smooth surface. When the buffer layer was 30 nm thick, the proportion of Ni²⁺ cations at the T_d site in NiFe₂O₄ reached the maximum. Accordingly, the obtained film exhibited the highest saturation magnetization of 113 emu/cm³. This work demonstrates that introducing the BCZT buffer layer between the NiFe₂O₄ thin film and the SrTiO₃ substrate is an effective approach to tailor the magnetic properties of NiFe₂O₄ thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]