Epitaxial thin film ZnFe2O4: a semi-transparent magnetic semiconductor with high Curie temperature

Semi-transparent ZnFe2O4 films were fabricated by pulsed laser deposition on MgAl2O4 substrates. Structural investigations showed epitaxial growth and a zinc-to-iron ratio of close to 1 : 2. The films had a saturation magnetization between 0.2 T and 0.4 T at low temperatures and a Curie temperature close to 600K and were in either a ferrimagnetic or a cluster-glass state. Resistivity measurements showed clear semiconducting behaviour with an activation energy depending on oxygen partial pressure. Their ferrimagnetic, semiconducting and semi-transparent properties make ZnFe2O4 films promising candidates for high Curie-temperature magnetic semiconductors.