Structure and lattice dynamics of heterostructures based on bismuth ferrite and barium strontium titanate

The surface morphology, lattice parameters, and Raman spectra have been investigated at the stages of successive formation of a three-layer heterostructure consisting of epitaxial layers Ba$_{0.8}$Sr$_{0.2}$TiO$_3$ (BST) and (Bi$_{0.98}$Nd$_{0.02}$)FeO$_3$ (BNFO). The structural distortions arising from sequential deposition of BST/BNFO/BST layers of equal thickness have been determined using X-ray diffraction. It has been found that the degree of tetragonal distortion of the BST film on MgO increases after deposition of the BNFO film on the BST film surface, indicating the appearance of compressive stresses in BST. Based on the analysis of polarized Raman spectra, it has been shown that, in the BNFO layer, there is a new phase state which is not observed in the bulk samples. It has been demonstrated that the degree of tetragonality of the BST film grown on the BNFO surface is higher than that of the BST film grown directly on MgO.