Development of Spontaneous Polarization of Epitaxial Iron-Excess Gallium Ferrite Thin Films

Iron-excess gallium ferrite, $Ga_{0.6}Fe_{1.4}O_3$ (GFO), is known to have room-temperature ferromagnetic phases and potentially exhibit ferroelectricity as well [1]. But, leaky polarization-electric field (PE) hysteresis curves of the GFO thin film are hurdle to prove its spontaneous polarization, in other words, ferroelecticity. One of the reasons that the GFO films have leaky PE hysteresis loop is carrier hopping between $Fe^{2+}$ and $Fe^{3+}$ sites due to oxygen deficiency. We focus on reducing conducting current by substituting divalent cations at $Fe^{2+}$ sites. GFO thin films were grown epitaxially along b-axis normal to $SrRuO_3/SrTiO_3$ (111) substrates by pulsed laser deposition. Current density of the ion-substituted GFO thin films was reduced by $10^3$ or more. Ferroelectric properties of the ion-substituted GFO thin films were measured using macroscopic and microscopic schemes. In particular, local ferroelectric properties of the GFO thin films were exhibited and their remnant polarization and piezoelectric d33 coefficient were obtained.