Interrelation of epitaxial strain and oxygen deficiency in La0.7Ca0.3MnO3−δ thin films

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials Vol. 378; pp. 539 - 545
• Main Authors: Kawashima, K., Logvenov, G., Christiani, G., Habermeier, H.-U.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15-03-2015
• Subjects: Epitaxial Strain; La0.7Ca0.3MnO3−δ thin films; Oxygen deficiencies in La0.7Ca0.3MnO3−δ thin films; Pulsed Laser Deposition; Pulsed Laser Deposition; Oxygen deficiencies in La0.7Ca0.3MnO3−δ thin films; Epitaxial Strain; La0.7Ca0.3MnO3−δ thin films
• ISSN: 0304-8853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2014.11.055

The interrelation between the epitaxial strain and oxygen deficiency in La0.7Ca0.3MnO3−δ thin films was studied in terms of structural and functional properties. The films with a thickness of 1000Å were prepared using a PLD system equipped with a RHEED facility and a pyrometric film temperature control. The epitaxial strain and the oxygen deficiency in the samples were systematically modified using three different substrates: SrTiO3, (LaAlO3)0.3–(Sr2AlTaO6)0.7 and LaSrAlO4, and four different oxygen pressures during film growth ranging from 0.27mbar to 0.1mbar. It could be demonstrated that the oxygen incorporation depends on the epitaxial strain: oxygen vacancies were induced to accommodate tensile strain whereas the compressive strain suppressed the generation of oxygen vacancies.
•Impact of oxygen vacancies on transport and magnetic properties of La0.7Ca0.3MnO3−δ thin films.•La0.7Ca0.3MnO3−δ thin films deposited at different oxygen partial pressures during PLD.•Dependence of oxygen incorporation in La0.7Ca0.3MnO3−δ thin films on epitaxial strain.