The domain structure in epitaxial La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 films grown on (LaAlO3)0.3(Sr2AlTaO6)0.7(001) substrates has been investigated by x-ray reciprocal space maps on (003), (103), (1¯03), (013), and (01¯3) reflections in the high-resolution scattering zone containing the c* axis, and the transmission electron microscopy. We revealed that at above 20nm, the films show clearly a low symmetry monoclinic phase, and the shear strain relaxation can induce a patterned domain structure and in-plane superlattice in the films. The domain width versus the film thickness and the shear strain effect on the Curie temperature of the films were also discussed.
Articles you may be interested inEffect of growth oxygen pressure on anisotropic-strain-induced phase separation in epitaxial La0.67Ca0.33MnO3/NdGaO3 (001) films
La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 (LCMO) films of 6–60 nm thickness were grown epitaxially on orthorhombic NdGaO3(1 1 0)Or (NGO) substrates by the pulsed laser deposition method. Like NGO, the films when relaxed should also have an orthorhombic structure that can be described by a pseudocubic perovskite unit, with the angle β between a and c axes deviating from 90°. Using high-resolution off-specular x-ray reciprocal space mapping, we clearly observed the angle deviations in pseudocubic LCMO(0 0 1)/NGO(0 0 1) and investigated the thickness evolution of lattice distortions in the films. At above 30 nm the films are angularly relaxed, while the thinner ones suffer from the shear strain. We argue that for this system although the lattice mismatch in between is negligible the shear strain is crucial for transport properties of the ultrathin LCMO films.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.