Multiferroic Batio3-Cofe2o4 Nano Composite Thin Films Grown By Polymer-Assisted Deposition

Nanocomposite multiferroic BaTiO3-CoFe2O4 thin films have been grown by a chemical solution deposition technique, named polymer-assisted deposition. X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, magnetic force microscopy and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy have been used to characterize the composite films. The self-assembled nanocomposite is revealed to be CoFe2O4 nano-particles embedded into the BaTiO3 matrix. This is different with the BaTiO3-NiFe2O4 system grown by PAD, in which the spinel NiFe2O4 is the matrix. The difference in the surface energy of the three materials is believed to be the key reason to explain the phenomenon.