Abstract
The first synthesis of epitaxial spinel CuCr2O4 thin films is reported, which exhibit enhanced magnetization in excess of 200% of the accepted bulk value when grown on single-crystal (110) MgAl2O4 substrates. Bulk CuCr2O4 is a ferrimagnetic insulator with a low net magnetic moment of 0.5 mu(B) due to its tetragonal unit cell with a c/a ratio of 1.29 and frustrated moment configuration. It is shown that through epitaxial growth and substrate-induced strain, it is possible to enhance the magnetization of these films by reducing the tetragonality of its unit cell which, in turn, effectively decreases magnetic moment frustration allowing for a greater net moment.