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Verhage M, van der Minne E, Kiens EM, Korol L, Spiteri RJ, Koster G, Green RJ, Baeumer C, Flipse CFJ. Electronic and Structural Disorder of the Epitaxial La 0.67Sr 0.33MnO 3 Surface. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16. [PMID: 38619160 PMCID: PMC11056928 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c17639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Understanding and tuning epitaxial complex oxide films are crucial in controlling the behavior of devices and catalytic processes. Substrate-induced strain, doping, and layer growth are known to influence the electronic and magnetic properties of the bulk of the film. In this study, we demonstrate a clear distinction between the bulk and surface of thin films of La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 in terms of chemical composition, electronic disorder, and surface morphology. We use a combined experimental approach of X-ray-based characterization methods and scanning probe microscopy. Using X-ray diffraction and resonant X-ray reflectivity, we uncover surface nonstoichiometry in the strontium and lanthanum alongside an accumulation of oxygen vacancies. With scanning tunneling microscopy, we observed an electronic phase separation (EPS) on the surface related to this nonstoichiometry. The EPS is likely driving the temperature-dependent resistivity transition and is a cause of proposed mixed-phase ferromagnetic and paramagnetic states near room temperature in these thin films.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Verhage
- Molecular
Materials and Nanosystems (M2N)—Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven 5612 AP, Netherlands
| | - Emma van der Minne
- MESA+
Institute for Nanotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede 7522 NB, Netherlands
| | - Ellen M. Kiens
- MESA+
Institute for Nanotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede 7522 NB, Netherlands
| | - Lucas Korol
- Department
of Physics & Engineering Physics, University
of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon S7N 5A2, Canada
| | - Raymond J. Spiteri
- Department
of Computer Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon S7N 5A2, Canada
| | - Gertjan Koster
- MESA+
Institute for Nanotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede 7522 NB, Netherlands
| | - Robert J. Green
- Department
of Physics & Engineering Physics, University
of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon S7N 5A2, Canada
- Stewart
Blusson Quantum Matter Institute, University
of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Christoph Baeumer
- MESA+
Institute for Nanotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede 7522 NB, Netherlands
- Peter
Gruenberg
Institute and JARA-FIT, Forschungszentrum
Juelich GmbH, Juelich 52428, Germany
| | - Cornelis F. J. Flipse
- Molecular
Materials and Nanosystems (M2N)—Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven 5612 AP, Netherlands
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