Evolution of film orientation in Y2MnCrO6 epitaxial films prepared by a two-step growth method

Epitaxial thin films of Y2MnCrO6 (YMCO) have been fabricated on various substrates via a two-step process combining magnetron sputtering technique and ex-situ annealing method. X-ray diffraction observations revealed that film orientation and quality are dominantly governed by the lattice mismatch between film and substrate. Moreover, orientation of the films grown on SrTiO3 can be tuned to some extent by adjusting substrate temperature and post-annealing process. The YMCO films were found to undergo a paramagnetic–ferrimagnetic transition at ~70K, which is consistent with the bulk sample. Furthermore, the hysteresis loops indicate that the films may own a uniaxial anisotropy with the easy axis along the c-direction. •Y2MnCrO6 films have been fabricated on various substrates.•Orientation of films grown on SrTiO3 can be tuned by changing preparation conditions.•Y2MnCrO6 displays a uniaxial magnetic anisotropy with the easy axis along the c-axis.