ErBa2Cu4O8(001) thin films studied by scanning tunneling microscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy

ErBa2Cu4O8(001) (Er 124) thin films have been prepared by pulsed laser deposition from ceramic Er 124. Transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction is used to identify the Er 124 phase in both ceramics and thin films. Scanning tunneling microscopy images of the film samples show growth hills with steps having a height of 2.7 mm. This implies that the growth unit is the full crystallographic cell with two ErBa2Cu4O8 units.