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The Structural and Magnetic Characterization of Molecular Beam Epitaxy Grown µ-Fe2O3/β-Ga2O3 Heterostructures

Hettiaratchy, Dona Elline Clarissa

Abstract Details

2022, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Materials Science and Engineering.
A new monoclinic phase of Iron (III) Oxide (µ-Fe2O3) was recently stabilized using plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PAMBE) on ultrawide-band gap β-Ga2O3 substrates. µ-Fe2O3 is the first new crystal structure for stoichiometric iron oxides discovered in nearly a century. While the epitaxial stabilization of this novel magnetic material has been demonstrated, the structural and magnetic properties of µ-Fe2O3 heterostructures largely remain unexplored. This dissertation is focused on the growth and characterization of heterostructures of µ-Fe2O3 grown on (010) oriented β-Ga2O3 substrates in order to understand the structural and magnetic properties of µ-Fe2O3. The first part of this work discusses the origin of the ferromagnetic response observed at room temperature from theµ-Fe2O3/β-Ga2O3 superlattices. To investigate the suspected interface origin of the ferromagnetic phase, identical superlattices of antiferromagnetic µ-Fe2O3, and diamagnetic β-Ga2O3 are grown on (010) oriented β-Ga2O3 substrates at various substrate temperatures and beam fluxes. The saturation magnetization of the ferromagnetic phase is observed to increase strongly with the interface roughness, consistent with an interfacial origin for the ferromagnetic response. To understand the structural properties of the µ-Fe2O3/β-Ga2O3 superlattices (layer thicknesses and strain-relaxation), a framework is necessary to quantitatively analyze High Resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) data using simulations based on dynamical X-ray diffraction theory. The next part of this work uses commercially available XRD fitting software, adapted to work with monoclinic crystal structures, to quantitatively characterize superlattices composed of either µ-Fe2O3 or β-(AlxGa1-x)2O3 grown on (010) β-Ga2O3 substrates. Reciprocal space maps show coherent superlattice growths that are strained to the (010) β-Ga2O3 lattice. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) data of a µ-Fe2O3 superlattice shows significant diffusion of Fe atoms into the β-Ga2O3 layers. Finally, this work discusses the growth of bulk µ-Fe2O3, and the characterization of the Curie temperature, magnetic anisotropy, and band structures of µ-Fe2O3heterostructures. Bulk µ-Fe2O3 undergoes strain relief through misfit twinning, with a critical thickness of ~8nm (~50 ML). The directional dependence of the magnetic response is characterized using SQUID magnetometry. µ-Fe2O3 heterostructures display perpendicular magnetic anisotropy with an out-of-plane (010) spin-locking axis. Band structures are calculated using DFT for bulk µ-Fe2O3 and the ferromagnetic, ordered interface phases. Bulk antiferromagnetic µ-Fe2O3 has an indirect band gap of Eg=2.195 eV in the visible and the ordered ferromagnetic interface phase β-(FeoctGatet)2O3 has a direct band gap of Eg=2.704 eV. Photoluminescence spectra support the DFT predictions of these band structures. The demonstration of an interface magnetic phase in nearly lattice-matched monoclinic µ-Fe2O3/β-Ga2O3 with an out-of-plane spin-locking axis, opens the door to ultra-wide band gap heterostructure-engineered magneto-electronic devices, where ferromagnetic switching of the interface phase can be incorporated into high-field devices.
Dr. Roberto Myers (Advisor)
Dr. Sanjay Krishna (Committee Member)
Dr. Maryam Ghazisaeidi (Committee Member)
246 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Hettiaratchy, D. E. C. (2022). The Structural and Magnetic Characterization of Molecular Beam Epitaxy Grown µ-Fe2O3/β-Ga2O3 Heterostructures [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu166074990160957

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Hettiaratchy, Dona Elline Clarissa. The Structural and Magnetic Characterization of Molecular Beam Epitaxy Grown µ-Fe2O3/β-Ga2O3 Heterostructures. 2022. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu166074990160957.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Hettiaratchy, Dona Elline Clarissa. "The Structural and Magnetic Characterization of Molecular Beam Epitaxy Grown µ-Fe2O3/β-Ga2O3 Heterostructures." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2022. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu166074990160957

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)