Microstructure and interfacial chemistry of pure and La-doped BiFeO₃ thin films.

We report on the microstructure and interfacial chemistry of thin films of pure and La-doped multiferroic bismuth ferrite (Bi1-x Lax FeO3 or BLFO), synthesized on Indium Tin Oxide-coated glass substrates by solution-deposition technique and studied using scanning transmission electron microscopy. Our results show that undoped and La-doped thin films are polycrystalline with distorted rhombohedral structure without any presence of any line or planar defect in the films. In addition, the films with La doping did not show any structural change and maintain the equilibrium structure.