Surface Valence States of Mn Ions and Magnetic Properties of La 0.67 Sr 0.33 MnO 3 Films

Abstract

La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 (LSMO) films were prepared on SrTiO3 single-crystal substrates by the pulsed laser deposition method. X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) were measured for the LSMO films as-prepared, annealed in oxygen and in vacuum, respectively. Multiple peaks fitting for Mn 2p3/2 XPS spectra shows that Mn2+ appears and the ratio of Mn3+/Mn4+ increases on the surface of LSMO film annealed in vacuum comparing with the as-prepared film, though the saturation magnetization (Ms) changes little. Mn6+ and Mn7+ can be detected while Mn4+ decreases much on the surface of LSMO film annealed in oxygen. The change of Mn3+/Mn4+ results in the obviously reduce of Ms. O1s spectra show the gradual changes of Mn-O, Sr-O and La-O. Analysis indicates that Mn2+ forms at the surface defects of LSMO films. Annealing in vacuum hardly affects the magnetic property of LSMO films. But annealing in oxygen greatly changes the valence states of Mn, which weakens the magnetic property of LSMO films.