Structure, physical properties, and applications of SrRuO3 thin films

SrRuO3 is endowed with three remarkable features. First, it is a moderately correlated material that exhibits several novel physical properties; second, it permits the epitaxial growth of essentially single-crystal films; and third, because it is a good conductor, it has attracted interest as a conducting layer in epitaxial heterostructures with a variety of functional oxides. In this review, the present state of knowledge of SrRuO3 thin films is summarized. Their role as a model system for studying magnetism and electron transport characterized by intermediate electron correlation and large magnetocrystalline anisotropy is demonstrated. The materials science of SrRuO3 thin film growth is reviewed, and its relationship to electronic, magnetic, and other physical properties is discussed. Finally, it is argued that, despite all that has been learned, a comprehensive understanding of SrRuO3 is still lacking and challenges remain.