All-alkoxide based deposition and properties of a multilayer La${}_{0.67}$Sr${}_{0.33}$MnO${}_3$/CoFe${}_2$O${}_4$/La${}_{0.67}$Sr${}_{0.33}$MnO${}_3$ film

Single and multilayer films of La${}_{0.67}$Sr${}_{0.33}$MnO${}_3$ and CoFe${}_2$O${}_4$ were deposited by spin-coating. The all-alkoxide precursors allowed inorganic gel films of extreme homogeneity to be formed and converted to phase pure complex oxides at low temperatures. La${}_{0.67}$Sr${}_{0.33}$MnO${}_3$ films were made with La- and Ca-methoxy-ethoxides and Mn${}_{19}$O${}_{12}$(moe)${}_{14}$(moeH)${}_{10}$ as precursors at 800 °C. The CoFe${}_2$O${}_4$ films were obtained at extremely low 275 °C, using a new CoFe${}_2$-methoxyethoxide precursor. The decomposition and microstructural development on heating was described by TG, TEM, XRD and IR spectroscopy. XRD showed no spurious phases and the unit-cell dimensions coincided quite well with literature values of the targeted phases. The structural, magnetic and electronic properties of these films established their phase purity and high quality with physical properties comparable to films deposited by physical deposition methods. The magnetic and magneto transport results are presented for single, bi- and tri- layer structures. The magnetically soft La${}_{0.67}$Sr${}_{0.33}$MnO${}_3$ layer was exchange coupled to the magnetically hard CoFe${}_2$O${}_4$ layer, giving rise to interesting switching behaviour in magnetism and magneto-transport properties. (© 2021 The Authors. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry published by Wiley-VCH GmbH)