Preparation of high magneto-optical performance and crystalline quality Ce1Gd2Fe5−xGaxO12 films on CLNGG substrate crystal

• With excellent magneto-optical performance, Ce,Ga:GIG film has a good application prospect.
• Ce,Ga:GIG film with high quality were prepared on CLNGG by RF magnetron sputtering.
• Crystalline quality and morphology of films are intently related to the substrate.
• Ga3+ doping obviously affect on magnetism and magneto-optical property of Ce:GIG film.

Thin films of Ce1Gd2Fe5−xGaxO12 (Ce,Ga:GIG) were prepared on Gd3Ga5O12 (GGG) and Ca2.90Li0.30Nb1.93Ga2.76O12 (CLNGG) substrates by using radio frequency magnetron sputtering technique. The phase, grain orientation, surface morphology, transmittance, magnetism and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) properties of films were analyzed. And the effects of lattice mismatch and non-magnetic Ga3+-doping were discussed. The results show that the films with higher crystallized quality and lower stress can be obtained by growing on CLNGG than on GGG. Moreover, the coercive force, magnetization, magneto-optical effect intensity and orientation of film can be effectively regulated by adjusting Ga3+-doped concentration.