Growth and characterization of multiferroic BiMnO$_3$ thin films

Abstract

We have grown epitaxial thin films of multiferroic BiMnO$_3$ using pulsed laser deposition. The films were grown on SrTiO$_3$ (001) substrates by ablating a Bi-rich target. Using x-ray diffraction we confirmed that the films were epitaxial and the stoichiometry of the films was confirmed using Auger electron spectroscopy. The films have a ferromagnetic Curie temperature ($T_C$) of 85$\pm$5 K and a saturation magnetization of 1 $\mu_B$/Mn. The electric polarization as a function of electric field ($P-E$) was measured using an interdigital capacitance geometry. The $P-E$ plot shows a clear hysteresis that confirms the multiferroic nature of the thin films.