X-ray absorption near-edge and grazing incidence x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy are employed to investigate the electronic structure of ZnFe${}_2$O${}_4$ thin films. The spectroscopy techniques are used to determine the nonequilibrium cation site occupancy as a function of depth and oxygen pressure during deposition and its effects on the magnetic properties. It is found that low deposition pressures below 10${}^{-3}$ mbar cause iron superoccupation of tetrahedral sites without Zn${}^{2+}$ inversion, resulting in an ordered magnetic phase with high room-temperature magnetic moment.

• Received 21 January 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.84.064404