YNixMn1-xO3 thin films by pulsed laser deposition : Structure and magnetic properties

Highly oriented YNixMn1-xO3 thin films on SrTiO3 (100) substrates were achieved by using pulsed laser deposition for x=0.33 and x=0.50. We used a combination of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and magnetic-property measurements. The magnetic transition temperatures (Tc) of the as-grown films are higher than the corresponding bulk values (typically 85 K instead of 80 K, for x=0.5, and 60 K instead of 50 K, for x=0.33). Our magnetic measurements also suggest a spin-glass characteristic in the x=0.33 films, while a cluster glasslike behavior is observed for the films with x=0.5, which is quite different from that of the bulk samples. Finally, the influence of post-deposition heat treatment on the magnetic properties of the as-grown films is discussed.