Structural and magnetoresistive property of the LaCaMnO thin films prepared by a new method: Precursor film sintering

We synthesized La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 thin films on LaAlO3 (1 0 0) single-crystal substrates by a newly invented precursor film sintering technique. FTIR analysis shows that water evaporation and partial decomposition of PAM are the major reactions during the dry-off step, and oxidation of nitrate ions and the formation of MnOMn bonds only take place in the sintering step. LCMO thin films prepared by the PFS method are all epitaxially-grown thin films with good quality, and have the same crystal structure as the epitaxially-grown LCMO thin films prepared by the PLD method. The critical sintering temperature was carefully studied based on XRD patterns and SEM images. It is found that the MR of thin films is influenced by the critical sintering temperature, the length of sintering and oxygen temper. Besides, the advantages of the PFS method include simple equipments, common chemical compounds and a variety of shapes of the prepared thin films. Therefore, it is promising to fabricate electric devices by LCMO thin films with CMR effects via the PFS method in the future.