Tuning magnetic and optical properties through strain in epitaxial LaCrO3 thin films

TL;DR

This study investigates how epitaxial strain influences the magnetic and optical properties of LaCrO3 thin films, demonstrating the potential to tailor material functionalities through strain engineering.

Contribution

It provides a combined experimental and theoretical analysis of strain effects on LaCrO3 thin films, revealing the role of lattice anisotropy in magnetic and optical property modulation.

Findings

Lattice anisotropy controls magnetic behavior.

Strain-induced tetragonality affects optical transitions.

Strain engineering enables property tailoring.

Abstract

We report on the effect of epitaxial strain on magnetic and optical properties of perovskite LaCrO3 (LCO) single crystal thin films. Epitaxial LCO thin films are grown by pulsed laser deposition on proper choice of substrates to impose different strain states. A combined experimental and theoretical approach is used to demonstrate the direct correlation between lattice-strain and functional properties. The magnetization results show that the lattice anisotropy plays a critical role in controlling the magnetic behavior of LCO films. The strain induced tetragonality in the film lattice strongly affects the optical transitions and charge transfer gap in LCO. This study opens new possibilities to tailoring the functional properties of LCO and related materials by strain engineering in epitaxial growth.