Polymetallic citric complexes as precursors for spray-pyrolysis deposition of thin LaFeO3 films

• A method for spray-pyrolysis deposition of thin films of LaFeO3 is proposed.
• Mixed metal citrate complexes in ethylene glycol are used as a starting material.
• Films with thickness varying from 40 to 600 nm are prepared.
• Stoichiometric, uniform and dense films with good adhesion are obtained.

A method for the deposition of thin films of the perovskite LaFeO3 on glass is proposed. The films are prepared by spray pyrolysis using an ethylene glycol solution of mixed metal citrate complexes and O2 or N2 as carrier gas at substrate temperatures between 350 °C and 400 °C and post-deposition annealing at 350–480 °C in air. The phase composition, crystal structure, morphology and adhesion of the prepared films (40–600 nm thick) are studied by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The influence of the conditions of deposition and post-deposition annealing is studied and optimal parameters of the procedure are described. Single phase dense uniform films with crystallites of approx. 30 nm are obtained.