Pulsed laser-induced vaporization from the surface of a binary oxide (zinc ferrite) and its implications for synthesis of thin films

The nature of pulsed ruby laser-induced vaporization from the surface of a binary oxide represented by ZnxFe3−xO4 (x∼1) is studied via morphological (scanning electron microscopy), compositional (energy-dispersive analysis of x ray), structural (small-angle x-ray diffraction), and microstructural (conversion electron Mössbauer) examination of the laser-processed surface and correlation of the related surface modification to the properties of thin films deposited therefrom, and subjected to similar examination. Zinc ferrite (ZnxFe3−xO4) films have been deposited on single-crystal Al2O3 substrates and the dependence of the film properties on the oxygen partial pressure and substrate temperature during deposition is studied to explore optimized conditions for deposition of near single-phase stoichiometric films.