Cerium Bismuth Ferrite
Cerium Bismuth Ferrite (Ce2.2Bi0.8Fe5O12) sputtering targets for deposition of magneto-optical iron garnet thin films. This cerium-rich, bismuth-substituted iron garnet is engineered for strong Faraday rotation and ferrimagnetic thin-film performance in integrated photonic and sensor applications. Targets are available in standard catalogue sizes IN-BiCeFe-01 and IN-BiCeFe-02, with custom dimensions, purities, and Ce: Bi ratios produced to order.
| Purity (%) : | >99.9 |
| Dimensions : | Dia. 1”, Thick. 0.125” Dia. 2”, Thick. 0.25” |
Introduction to Cerium Bismuth Ferrite
Cerium Bismuth Ferrite (Ce₂.₂Bi₀.₈Fe₅O₁₂) is a rare-earth iron garnet with a cubic garnet structure, where Ce and Bi occupy the dodecahedral A-sites while Fe³⁺ occupies the octahedral and tetrahedral sublattices. The antiparallel coupling of the iron sublattices produces ferrimagnetism, while Ce/Bi substitution enhances magneto-optical activity and Faraday rotation, particularly in the near-infrared region. Because highly substituted compositions are difficult to produce as bulk crystals, sputtering from a pre-alloyed ceramic target provides reliable Ce: Bi stoichiometry, uniformity, and thickness control in thin films. Sputtered films are used in integrated magneto-optics, including optical isolators and circulators, magneto-optic sensors, nonreciprocal photonic components, and planar photonic structures requiring strong wavelength-dependent Faraday rotation.
FAQs
Question: Should this target be run with RF or DC sputtering?
Answer: As an oxide/insulating ceramic target, RF magnetron sputtering is the standard approach and is recommended for most process development. DC or pulsed-DC operation is possible in some configurations depending on target bonding and system setup, and should be qualified against the specific deposition tool before production use.
Introduction to Cerium Bismuth Ferrite
Cerium Bismuth Ferrite (Ce₂.₂Bi₀.₈Fe₅O₁₂) is a rare-earth iron garnet with a cubic garnet structure, where Ce and Bi occupy the dodecahedral A-sites while Fe³⁺ occupies the octahedral and tetrahedral sublattices. The antiparallel coupling of the iron sublattices produces ferrimagnetism, while Ce/Bi substitution enhances magneto-optical activity and Faraday rotation, particularly in the near-infrared region. Because highly substituted compositions are difficult to produce as bulk crystals, sputtering from a pre-alloyed ceramic target provides reliable Ce: Bi stoichiometry, uniformity, and thickness control in thin films. Sputtered films are used in integrated magneto-optics, including optical isolators and circulators, magneto-optic sensors, nonreciprocal photonic components, and planar photonic structures requiring strong wavelength-dependent Faraday rotation.
Key Properties of Cerium Bismuth Ferrite
| Property | Value | Significance |
|---|
| Chemical Formula | Ce2.2Bi0.8Fe5O12 | Confirms the cerium-rich dodecahedral A-site substitution with residual bismuth, distinguishing it from unsubstituted bismuth iron garnet |
| Crystal Structure | Cubic garnet, space group Ia-3d | Governs epitaxial compatibility with garnet substrates and the origin of the material’s magneto-optical activity |
| CAS Number | Not established | No CAS registry number is assigned to this specific mixed-cation garnet composition; not to be confused with CAS 12010-42-3, which designates unsubstituted bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) |
| Molar Mass | ~946.65 g/mol | Basis for stoichiometric calculations in target fabrication and film thickness/deposition-rate estimates |
| Density (theoretical) | ~6.5 – 7.0 g/cm3 | Benchmarks the sintered target’s achievable density, typically reported at greater than 90% of theoretical for production targets |
| Purity | 99.9% – 99.99% | Limits trace-metal and secondary-phase content that can degrade magneto-optical figure of merit and optical transmission |
| Magnetic Ordering | Ferrimagnetic (below Neel/Curie temperature) | Provides the net sublattice magnetisation required for Faraday rotation and magneto-optic Kerr response |
| Optical Activity | Enhanced Faraday rotation via Ce3+/Bi3+-Fe3+ charge-transfer bands | Enables stronger rotation per unit film thickness at near-infrared telecom wavelengths than undoped yttrium iron garnet |
Types & Grades of Cerium Bismuth Ferrite
Cerium Bismuth Ferrite targets are offered in standard catalogue sizes and grades, with custom purity, density, and geometry available for OEM and R&D deposition systems.
| Grade / Form | Typical Purity | Key Features / Uses |
|---|
| Standard Research Grade | 99.9% | Economical option for early-stage magneto-optic film screening and sputtering process development |
| High-Purity Photonics Grade | 99.99% | Reduced cation vacancy and Fe2+ defect content for lower optical loss in integrated isolator films |
| Custom Ce: Bi Ratio Blend | 99.9% – 99.99%, custom composition | Cerium-to-bismuth ratio adjusted to tune Faraday rotation strength and peak wavelength for a target device design |
| Bonded Target (indium or elastomer backing) | 99.9% and higher | Improved thermal conductivity for extended RF magnetron sputtering runs without target cracking |
| Rotary/Cylindrical Format | 99.9% and higher | Higher material utilisation and longer campaign life for high-throughput production coating lines |
Applications of Cerium Bismuth Ferrite
Sputtered films of Cerium Bismuth Ferrite support demanding roles across research and production applications where this material’s specific structural, electronic, or optical properties are the key requirement.
| Industry | Application | Function |
|---|
| Integrated Photonics | On-chip optical isolators and circulators | Delivers nonreciprocal Faraday rotation that suppresses back-reflections into laser sources |
| Telecommunications | Faraday rotator films for fibre-optic isolator assemblies | Provides a high magneto-optic figure of merit at the 1310 nm and 1550 nm telecom windows |
| Magneto-Optic Sensing | Current and magnetic-field sensors | Converts local magnetic field strength into a measurable, non-contact optical rotation signal |
| Microwave and RF Electronics | Tunable ferrite filter and resonator coatings | Ferrimagnetic resonance behaviour supports narrowband microwave filtering and circulator design. |
| Data Storage Research | Magneto-optic and magnetic-domain memory studies | Stable ferrimagnetic domains in thin garnet films support bit-storage and domain-wall research. |
| Materials Research | Cation-substitution and magnetoelectric coupling studies | Serves as a model garnet system for studying how mixed rare-earth/bismuth substitution tunes magneto-optical response |
Why Partner with Infinita Materials?
- Technical Depth: in-house quality control with ICP-MS and XRF purity verification, density measurement, and full certificates of analysis on every target.
- Global Logistics: reliable supply from single R&D-scale targets to production-line volumes, with established international shipping.
- Responsive Support: direct access to materials engineers for grade, bonding, and geometry selection, and process-compatibility questions.
Take the Next Step
Infinita Materials fabricates Cerium Bismuth Ferrite sputtering targets engineered to the purity, density, and geometry your deposition process requires. Whether the requirement is a standard catalogue target or a custom size, purity, or bonded assembly, our team can help match the right specification to your deposition system. Request a quote or speak with our technical team to discuss your target specification.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Ce₂.₂Bi₀.₈Fe₅ contribute to spintronics?
The material's Resonating Magnetic and Electric characteristics enable Spintronics technology devices that utilize the spin of the electrons to perform data processing in superior ways while consuming less energy.
What types of devices benefit from Ce₂.₂Bi₀.₈Fe₅ thin films?
Devices that benefit from it include non-volatile memory (FeRAM), spintronic devices, sensors, actuators, energy harvesting systems, microwave devices, and optoelectronic components, all of which rely on its unique magnetoelectric and dielectric properties.
Should this target be run with RF or DC sputtering?
As an oxide/insulating ceramic target, RF magnetron sputtering is the standard approach and is recommended for most process development. DC or pulsed-DC operation is possible in some configurations depending on target bonding and system setup, and should be qualified against the specific deposition tool before production use.
Cerium Bismuth Ferrite
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