# Effect of annealing on the magnetic properties of zinc ferrite thin films

## TL;DR

This study investigates how annealing affects the magnetic properties of zinc ferrite thin films, revealing changes in magnetization, blocking temperature, and magnetic ordering due to thermal treatment.

## Contribution

It provides new insights into the impact of annealing atmospheres and temperatures on the magnetic behavior of zinc ferrite thin films.

## Key findings

- Annealing reduces magnetization and blocking temperature.
- As-deposited films show ferrimagnetic ordering with high coercivity.
- Magnetic properties depend on annealing atmosphere and temperature.

## Abstract

We report on the magnetic properties of zinc ferrite thin film deposited on SrTiO$_3$ single crystal using pulsed laser deposition. X-ray diffraction result indicates the highly oriented single phase growth of the film along with the presence of the strain. In comparison to the bulk antiferromagnetic order, the as-deposited film has been found to exhibit ferrimagnetic ordering with a coercive field of 1140~Oe at 5~K. A broad maximum, at $\approx$105~K, observed in zero-field cooled magnetization curve indicates the wide grain size distribution for the as-deposited film. Reduction in magnetization and blocking temperature has been observed after annealing in both argon as well as oxygen atmospheres, where the variation was found to be dependent on the annealing temperature.