title: Orientation-tuning in self-assembled heterostructures induced by a buffer layer.
abstract: Anisotropic nano-plate structures in self-assembled perovskite-spinel thin films, BiFeO3-NiFe2O4 and BiFeO3-CoFe2O4, which were deposited on (001)c SrRuO3/SrTiO3 and DyScO3 substrates, respectively, have been demonstrated using transmission electron microscopy combined with strain analysis. Unlike the unitary cube-on-cube orientation relationship reported widely, the growth direction of the CoFe2O4 and NiFe2O4 plates was tuned to [011]c while the BiFeO3 matrix kept [001]c in both systems. In particular, a thin stress-sensitive BiFeO3 buffer layer between the spinel nanostructure and the substrate was introduced for providing a complex strain state in both film systems. The novel orientation tuning and the pattern configuration of the heterostructures are mainly attributed to the strain imposed on the films and the anisotropic ledge growth mechanism of spinels.
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China. qzhan@mater.ustb.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yuanmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Pingping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Ying-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.forename: Ying-Hao
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhan