Electro-optical effects and temperature-dependent electrical properties of LuFe2O4 thin films

•High quality thin films of LuFe2O4 on sapphire substrates by e-beam deposition•Electro-optical effects up to 5% near the Fe d to d electronic transition at 78 K•Hysteresis effects in dc voltage–current and nonlinear response in ac voltage–current•Field-induced changes of the CO state mediated by the spin-charge-lattice

We report electro-optical and temperature-dependent electrical-transport properties of LuFe2O4 (LFO) thin films. The LFO thin films at 78 K showed the electro-optical effects of size up to 5% near the Fe2 +d to d on-site electronic transition. In the three-dimensional charge-ordered state of LFO, we observed hysteresis in dc voltage–current measurements and nonlinear voltage–current relationship in transient response of voltage under current pulses. The electro-optical and electrical properties of LFO thin films are interpreted in terms of the field-induced changes of the charge-ordered state mediated by the spin–charge–lattice coupling effect. We also discuss possible mechanisms of the complex electrical properties and electro-optical effects in conjunction with the Maxwell–Wagner effects.