Effect of cerium substitution on microstructure and Faraday rotation of CexY3-xFe5O12 thin films

Abstract

In this work, cerium-substituted yttrium iron garnet (CexY3-xFe5O12, x = 0.25-1) targets were fabricated by conventional ceramic method at different temperatures, and their crystal structures were investigated by X-ray diffraction method. The results showed that the minimum calcining temperature required to get single-phase targets depends on x value and decreased by increasing x value. Then, thin films of the targets were deposited on GGG (444) single-crystal substrates by pulsed laser deposition technique. Based on the previous studies, preferred (444) oriented CexY3-xFe5O12 thin films were fabricated under optimum conditions. Faraday rotation of the thin films was measured at 635 nm wavelength, and the results showed that Faraday rotation and sensitivity constant increased by increasing x value. Scanning electron microscope images showed that by increasing x value, cracks on the thin films' surface increased. Atomic force microscopy images showed that the films have smooth surfaces and the surface roughness decreased by increasing the x value.