Optical properties of BiFeO₃-system multiferroic thin films

The optical properties of the chemical solution deposition (CSD)-derived BiFeO₃ (BFO) film and the pulsed laser deposition (PLD)-derived (Bi, Nd)(Fe, Mn)O₃ (BNFM) film were evaluated by spectroscopic ellipsometry, and their optical constants (n, k) and band gaps were determined. At a wavelength of 600 nm, the refractive indexes of 3.22 and 2.87 were estimated for the BFO and BNFM films, respectively, although the existence of a refractive index gradient was suggested in the BFO film. In addition, at a wavelength of 1550 nm, which is generally used for optical communication, the refractive indexes of 2.91 and 2.59 were estimated for the BFO and BNFM films, respectively. The band gaps of the BFO and BNFM films were estimated to be 2.79 and 2.72 eV, respectively, and it was confirmed that the extinction coefficients of both films were almost zero at wavelengths larger than 600 nm. These results suggest that the BFO-system multiferroic films have a high potential as an optical material with a high refractive index.