Synthesis, characterization of LCMO composite and fabrication of its thin films by R.F magnetron sputtering for roomerature applications

Abstract

Rare-earth based manganese oxide films having optimized compositions La0.7Ca0.3MnO3(LCMO) are fabricated using R.F Sputtering technique on n-type Si/SiO2substrate at ambient temperature and 40 millibar oxygen partial pressure with subsequent post annealing at 900°C for a duration of 12 hours. The polycrystalline LCMO composite target is synthesized using conventional solid- state reaction route. Positive magneto-resistance is observed in studied hole doped manganite at room temperature. This shows that the present LCMO is paramagnetic at room temperature. X-Ray diffraction shows that sample is crystallized in single phase and SEM micrographs and EDS report depicts the surface morphology of LCMO. Resistance measurements are done using standard four probe technique at 300K and at zero field,0.5 T and 1.5 T. Magnetoresistance (MR) comes out to be about 10.28% at 1.5 tesla, which is remarkable in itself.