Influence of epitaxial growth on phase competition in Pr0.5Sr0.5MnO3 films

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials Vol. 324; no. 6; pp. 1189 - 1192
• Main Authors: Chen, Liping, Chen, Yuansha, Ma, Yubin, Lian, Guijun, Zhang, Yan, Xiong, Guangcheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-03-2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Antiferromagnetic; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetotransport phenomena, materials for magnetotransport; Manganite; Manganites; Phase competition; Physics; Pr0.5Sr0.5MnO3; Antiferromagnetic; Manganite; Phase competition; Pr0.5Sr0.5MnO3; Pr; Epitaxial layers; Phase composition; Tetragonal lattices; Phase transformations; Metal-insulator transition; Epitaxy; Ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic transitions; Pulsed laser deposition; XRD; Monoclinic lattices; MnO; Thickness; Strained layer; Manganites; Sr
• ISSN: 0304-8853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2011.11.006

A series of Pr0.5Sr0.5MnO3 (PSMO) films with various thickness were epitaxially grown on substrates of (001)-oriented (LaAlO3)0.3(SrAl0.5Ta0.5O3)0.7 (LSAT), LaAlO3 (LAO) and SrTiO3 (STO), and (011)-oriented STO using pulse laser deposition. Influence of epitaxial growth on phase competition was investigated. A ferromagnetic metal to antiferromagnetic insulator (FMM–AFI) transition upon cooling is present in both largely compressed situations deposited on LAO (001) and tensile cases deposited on STO (001) but absent in little strained films grown on LSAT (001), indicating that the antiferromagnetic insulating state is favored by strains. On the other hand, the 400nm films deposited on (011)-oriented STO as well as LAO substrates show FMM–AFI transition. These results reveal that both the orientation of epitaxial growth and substrate-induced strain affect the FMM–AFI transition.
► Pr0.5Sr0.5MnO3 films were epitaxially grown on various substrates. ► Influence of epitaxial growth on phase competition was investigated. ► Both growth orientation and substrate-induced strain affect the phase diagram.