Dimensional effects on the structure and magnetic properties of GdMnO3 thin films

This work is addressed to studying GdMnO3 thin films, prepared by a chemical solution method on oriented Pt substrates. Alterations regarding structure and magnetic response of both ceramics and single crystals show that the behaviour of the as-prepared films can be understood by assuming a continuously changing of the in-plane stress state in the film induced by mechanical coupling with the substrate. The emerging of a ferromagnetic response in the thin films is a consequence of the structural deformations induced by matching both film and substrate during the growth process, which alters the balance between competitive antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic interactions.

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► GdMnO3 thin films were processed by sol-gel route on oriented substrates.
► Changing stress state induced by the substrate was evidenced through Raman spectra.
► Stress-induced ferromagnetic ordering was evidenced by magnetic measurements.
► Ferromagnetic ordering is a consequence of structural deformations.
► Distortion alters balance between magnetic interactions, according theoretical model.