Influence of chemical solution growth and vacuum annealing on the properties of (100) pseudocubic oriented BiFeO3 thin films

BiFeO3 (BFO), a Pb-free perovskite oxide, is being explored for its potential use in a multitude of applications. We report on the oriented growth of BFO thin films using a facile metal-organic chemical solution deposition. Unlike the growth characteristics observed in Si/SiO2 and glass/FTO substrates, the solution growth process on sapphire (0001) is found to yield highly oriented thin films along (100)pc planes. Furthermore, annealing in air...