Thickness dependent properties of La Ca MnO thin films

Epitaxial thin films of La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 LCMO.were prepared by pulsed laser deposition PLD.on SrTiO3 100. substrates. After deposition the films were in situ annealed for 1 h in oxygen 105 Pa, 7808C.. We studied the thickness dependence of the transport properties in order to address the relation between the microscopic structure and the metal–insulator transition temperature TMI. It could be demonstrated that TMI decreases systematically from the bulk value TMIs276 K with decreasing film thickness. Details of the temperature dependence of D and its magnetic field dependence are discussed. q1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.