Reduction and oxidation of SrCoO 2.5 thin films at low temperatures

Abstract

Brownmillerite SrCoO 2.5 (010) thin films synthesized by pulsed laser deposition became amorphous when reduced at low temperatures by CaH 2, indicating that the infinite-layer structure with the square planar Co 2+O 4 configuration is unstable. Ferromagnetic and conducting perovskite SrCoO 3 epitaxial thin films, on the other hand, were obtained topotactically at room temperature by oxidation with NaClO. © 2012 The Royal Society of Chemistry.