Effect of the deposition parameters on the structural and magnetic properties of pulsed laser ablated NiO thin films

► Optimized parameters of pulsed laser deposition for smooth antiferromagnetic film. ► The texture and the crystallite size of the films are correlated. ► Magnetic behavior is correlated with the crystallite size in NiO film. ► Films having small crystallites exhibit superparamagnetism. ► Morphology of the deposited films is orientation dependent.