Transmission electron microscopy study of epitaxial La_0.8MnO₃ thin films on SrTiO₃

Abstract

The structure and microstructure of La_0.8MnO₃ thin films on SrTiO₃ substrates, fabricated by pulsed laser deposition at substrate temperatures of 873 K and 1073 K, have been studied by transmission electron microscopy. In both films, columnar growth morphology has been observed. The columnar grain size is found to increase with increasing substrate temperature. In the film deposited at a substrate temperature of 1073 K, there is only one rhombohedral phase. However, two phases, a rhombohedral one and an orthorhombic one, have been observed in the film deposited at 873 K.

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National 973 Project of China, Chinese National Nature Science Foundation and the National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology of China.