The role of cationic and anionic point defects in pulsed laser deposition of perovskites

Pulsed laser-deposited thin films often show properties that are less optimized compared to single crystalline materials, or thin films grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The main reasons include the high particle energies and the dynamics of the laser plasma. Furthermore, point defect engineering is difficult to achieve experimentally since the adjustable parameters show a complex interplay. Using the examples of the simple perovskite SrMoO 3 and the double perovskite Sr 2 CrWO 6 we discuss the role of cationic and anionic point defects, and how far they can be engineered during pulsed laser deposition.