Lanthanum cobaltite thin films on stainless steel

The present paper is focused on the preparation of nanophasic LaCoO3 thin films deposited by dip-coating technique on stainless steel from precursor solutions prepared using the polymerizable complex route, based on the Pechini-type reaction route. A mixed solution of citric acid and ethylene glycol with La and Co ions was polymerized. The films were grown at 600 degrees C for 3 h. We have investigated the thin films by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The surface and in-depth chemical composition was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray chemical analysis. The films were dense, structurally and chemically homogeneous and not textured, made of nanosized equiaxed grains. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.