Low temperature processing of epitaxial La Ca MnO thin 1yx x 3 films by pulsed laser deposition

Magnetoresistive perovskite-like La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 LCMO.thin films have been successfully grown on 100.LaAlO3 LAO.at a relatively low substrate temperature of 6008C–7508C by pulsed laser deposition PLD.method. Epitaxial LCMO films are obtained at deposition temperature of 6508C or above without post-annealing. The as-deposited films grown at higher substrate temperatures showed lower resistance and higher semiconductor-to-metal transition temperature. For films post-annealed for 1 h at their respective deposition temperatures, a large reduction in their electrical resistivity and an up-shifting of their transition temperature were observed. The maximum magnetoresistance ratio MR., yDR 1 T.rR 0., for the films deposited and annealed at 6508C and 7508C were 37% and 50%, respectively. q1998 Elsevier Science B.V.