Phase evolution and the multiple metal-insulator transitions in epitaxially shear-strained La0.67Ca0.33MnO3/NdGaO3(001) films

Abstract

The ferromagnetic-metal (FM) to antiferromagnetic-insulator (AFI) transition, near 250 K, has been induced in epitaxially shear-strained La0.67Ca0.33MnO3/NdGaO3(001) films, although they are doped for a FM ground state. We showed that for these films the phase diagram can feature the five regions of paramagnetic-insulator, FM, AFI dominated, FM dominated, and the frozen state, evolving with decreasing temperatures. And the phase instabilities in the temperature/magnetic-field regime can lead to multiple metal-insulator transitions over the various phase boundaries, in addition to a huge low-field magnetoresistance in the wide temperature range. The results underline that with the elastic-driven phase separation and consequently the complex phase evolution, this epitaxial system could be employed for further understanding of the manganites, and also for thin-film devices applications.