Magneto-transport measurements on Nd$_{1.83}$Ce$_{0.17}$CuO$_{4\pm\delta}$ thin films

TL;DR

This study investigates the electrical transport properties of Nd$_{2-x}$Ce$_x$CuO$_{4\pm ext exteta}$ thin films, revealing how growth atmosphere affects resistivity and uncovering unusual magnetic field-dependent behaviors in overdoped samples.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the magneto-transport properties of NCCO thin films, especially in the overdoped regime, highlighting the influence of growth conditions on electronic behavior.

Findings

Resistivity varies with growth atmosphere in as-grown samples.

Unusual magnetoresistance behavior observed under magnetic fields.

Transport remains predominantly two-dimensional in overdoped films.

Abstract

Nd$_{2-x}$Ce$_x$CuO$_{4\pm\delta}$ (NCCO) epitaxial thin films have been deposited on (100) SrTiO$_3$ substrates by DC sputtering technique in different atmosphere. The as-grown samples show different dependence of the in-plane resistivity at low temperature, when they are grown in pure argon atmosphere or in oxygen. Moreover, an unusual behaviour is also found when transport takes place in the presence of an external magnetic field. It is commonly accepted that the higher anisotropic properties of NCCO crystalline cell with respect to the hole doped YBCO and LSCO and the electric conduction mainly confined in the CuO$_2$ plane, strongly support the two-dimensional (2D) character of the current transport in this system. Results on the temperature dependence of the resistance, as well as on the magnetoresistance and the Hall coefficient, obtained on epitaxial NCCO thin films in the over-doped region ($x\ge0.15$) of the phase diagram are presented and discussed.