Sol–gel synthesis and characterization of polycrystalline GdFeO₃ and Gd₃Fe₅O₁₂ thin films

Thin films of the perovskite and garnet structured gadolinium ferrites GdFeO3 and Gd3Fe5O12 have been synthesized by a sol-gel method, based on stoichiometric mixtures of acetyl acetone chelated Gd3+ and Fe3+ dissolved in 2-methoxy ethanol. After spin coating onto Si wafers, and heating in air at 700 degrees C for 20 h, neatly grown essentially single phase films were obtained. From X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy an iron deficiency is observed in the uppermost layer of both films, implying that the crystallites preferably end in planes rich in Gd and O but not in Fe. The films were also characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and magnetic measurements.