ISSN:
1089-7550
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
We investigate the thickness dependent properties of manganite films characterized by colossal negative magnetoresistance. Ultrathin, wedge-type films (0–120 Å) of La0.7Ba0.3MnO3 were deposited by laser ablation onto SrTiO3 and LaAlO3 substrates. The films were patterned into strips of different thickness and magneto-transport measurements were performed at temperatures between 5 and 290 K and in magnetic fields up to 5 T. Atomic force- and transmission electron microscopy were done to correlate the microstructure with the transport data. The resistivity of the films increases slightly with decreasing thickness due to substrate-induced compressive strain. Below 50 Å, the resistivity rises abruptly indicating a crossover to discontinuous and finally island-like film growth as confirmed by the microstructural techniques. At thicknesses slightly above the threshold for percolative conduction ((approximate)30 Å), an enhanced low-field magnetoresistance was observed as a signature of spin-dependent tunneling. © 2001 American Institute of Physics.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1380217
