Crossover from charge order to strain glass in phase separated manganite thin films: Impact of thermal cycling and substrate induced strain

TL;DR

This study investigates how thermal cycling and substrate strain influence phase transitions in manganite thin films, revealing a crossover from charge order to strain glass with distinct magnetic and transport properties.

Contribution

It demonstrates the impact of substrate-induced strain and thermal cycling on phase behavior and magnetic properties in phase-separated manganite thin films.

Findings

Crossover from AFM-COI to strain glass with temperature

Thermal cycling affects magnetic phase stability

Substrate strain influences phase transition temperatures

Abstract

The magnetic and magnetotransport properties of single crystalline La1-x-yPryCaxMnO3 (x=0.42, y=0.40) thin films (~140 nm) deposited on (110) oriented LaAlO3 and SrTiO3 substrates exhibit a crossover from the high temperature antiferromagnetic-charge ordered insulator (AFM-COI) phase (T>TN) to strain glass (T<Tg). At intermediate temperatures (Tg<T<TN) dynamical liquid having prominent thermal-magneto-resistive hysteresis dominates in the cooling cycle, while in the warming cycle it is preceded by ferromagnetic metal (FMM) phase. Magnetic field required to drive AFM-COI to FMM phase transition are higher than that for the strain glass. The magneto-electric nature and temperature span of the distinct magnetic regimes are sensitive to the thermal cycling and substrate induced strain.