Structure and Magnetic Properties of Nd0.88MnO3 Films Grown on SrTiO3 (100) Substrates by Liquid-Injection MOCVD

Abstract

We have investigated the structure and magnetic properties of the Nd0.88MnO3 (NMO) perovskite thin-film layers by liquid-injection MOCVD tried on SrTiO3 (STO) (100) substrates. The structural examinations showed that the growing film was amorphous. It changed to the crystalline phase after being annealed at 900 ºC in the air for 24 h. A minor secondary phase identified as Mn3O4 appears. The film is subjected to in-plane (IP) tensile stress leading to a contraction of the film out of the plane (OOP) lattice parameters. The orientation relationships for the film structure is described near the interface as [101 ̅ ]NMO//[100]STO and [010]NMO//[001]STO. The NMO thin film showed ferromagnetic ordering with a transition temperature TC =85K. The large bifurcation between ZFC and FC curves with a cusp at Tf = 53 K; and an irreversible temperature Tirr= 48 Kproves the spin-glass behavior with long-range ferromagnetic order (Mn 3+ -O 2--Mn 4+ ) coexists in NMO thin films. The magnetic easy axis corresponded to the surface normal.