Structurally induced magnetization in a La 2/3Sr 4/3MnO 4 superlattice

Abstract

A structural transition has been observed in a digital superlattice of La 2/3Sr 4/3MnO 4, which is correlated to a magnetization enhancement upon cooling the sample. These artificial superlattices were grown layer-by-layer using ozone-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Electron diffraction experiments show a phase transition below 150 K in nanopatches of the superlattice, which coincides with an enhanced magnetization starting below 110 K. Atomic scale electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) also shows changes in the Mn L 2,3 and O K edges, which are related to valence, strain, and the atomic coordination within nanopatches. Atomic resolution image and EELS showing variations of oxygen and lanthanum signature edges in a La 2/3Sr 4/3MnO 4 supperlattice. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.