Microstructure and Properties of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 Films Deposited on LaAlO3(100), (110), and (111) Substrates

A comparative study of the crystalline structure, magnetic properties, and transport properties of LSMO films grown on (100)-, (110)-, and (111) LaAlO3 (LAO) substrates was carried out. Using atomic force microscopy, round, rectangle, and dot surface morphologies were observed in (100)-, (110)-, and (111)-oriented LSMO films, respectively. Electrical and magnetic characterizations were performed on LSMO films of different orientation to provide evidence for the effect of strain on the magnetotransport properties. The (111)-oriented LSMO film has higher saturation magnetization and lower resistance compared with the (100)- and (110)-oriented LSMO films, which results from the smaller elastic deformation due to the larger elastic modulus along the <111< crystallographic direction.