Low-temperature growth of c-axis-oriented Y-type hexagonal ferrite thin films by the polymeric precursor method

Abstract

Well-crystallized Ba2Zn2Fe12O22 (Zn2–Y) films with high c-axis oritentation were successfully formed on Ag substrates at low temperature by the polymeric precursor method. A precursor solution with stoichiometric Ba2+, Zn2+, and Fe3+ ions was deposited on the substrates by a dip-coating. The films were then heat-treated at temperatures ranging from 700 to 900 °C. The crystallization process of c-axis-oriented Zn2–Y films occurred at the considerably low temperature of 750 °C, though a small amount of spinel oxides contaminated them. The films had hexagonal grain structures which were developed by increasing the heat-treatment temperature. Magnetization curves of the Zn2–Y film heated at 900 °C clearly indicated that the film had large in-plane magnetic anisotropy and had small in-plane coercivity.