Growth of ferromagnetic Nd0.7Sr0.3MnO3 films with an off-axis sputtering configuration

Abstract

Ferromagnetic Nd0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (NSMO) films have been prepared onto (001) SrTiO3 by the off-axis magnetron sputtering technique. The NSMO films are characterized by resistivity measurements, x-ray diffraction, and the atomic force microscope. Under our deposition conditions the films show a maximum resistivity (ρmax) at the highest peak temperature of Tp=180–240 K. By increasing the deposition temperature, Tp shifts to lower temperature and ρmax increases. In an applied magnetic field, large magnetoresistance (MR) ratios >2200% for several in situ deposited films at 180 K and H=6 T are obtained. The influence of growth conditions on the magnetotransport properties of NSMO films and their MR characteristics are discussed.