Effect of crystallinity on the transport properties of Nd_(0.67)Sr_(0.33)MnO_(3) thin films

摘要

Highly crystalline Nd_(0.67)Sr_(0.33)MnO_(3) (NSMO) thin films were grown on (001) LaAlO_(3) (LAO) substrates using pulsed-laser deposition. By studying the microstructural properties of NSMO using x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution TEM, we have found that high degree crystallinity leads to improved transport properties such as smaller resistivities at both peak and room temperatures. A peak temperature of 187 K has been observed from a resistivity-temperature measurement, and around 200 K from a magnetization measurement.