Pr_(0.5)Ca_(0.5)MnO_3 thin films deposited on LiNbO_3 substrates

摘要

Thin films of Pr_(0.5)Ca_(0.5)MnO_3 have been deposited on z-cut LiNbO_3 by pulsed laser ablation. The X- ray diffraction measurements showed that the films have grown highly oriented on LiNbO_3， with a pseudocubic (111) preferred growth direction. The thicknesses of the films, measured by low angle X-ray reflectivity, are between 13 and 140 nm. Their electrical resistivity present a semiconducting-like behaviour with an anomaly around 240 K, that corresponds to the charge ordering transition. The temperature of the transition (T_(co)) was estimated from In p vs. (1/T) plots. The charge ordering temperature was found to be dependent on the strain induced by the lattice mismatch on the.films.