Electronic and magnetic properties of epitaxial thin film of Nd\tsubscript{0.5}Ba\tsuscriptb{0.5}MnO\tsubscript{3}

TL;DR

This study explores the electronic and magnetic properties of high-quality epitaxial Nd0.5Ba0.5MnO3 thin films, revealing insulating behavior and spin-glass phenomena, and discusses tuning magnetic states via heterostructure engineering.

Contribution

First detailed investigation of epitaxial Nd0.5Ba0.5MnO3 thin films, demonstrating their insulating nature and spin-glass behavior, with implications for magnetic state control.

Findings

Films are insulating and exhibit spin-glass behavior at low temperatures.

High-quality epitaxial growth confirmed by multiple characterization techniques.

Potential to tune magnetic properties through heterostructure engineering.

Abstract

Contradictory reports about the electronic and magnetic behavior of bulk Nd0:5Ba0:5MnO3 with uniform disorder exist in the literature. In this work, we investigate the thin films of Nd0:5Ba0:5MnO3, grown by pulsed laser deposition. The success of epitaxial growth in a layer-by-layer mode and high quality of the films have been confirmed by in-situ reflection high energy electron diffraction, atomic force microscopy, X-ray reflectivity, and, X-ray diffraction. These films are found to be insulting and exhibit spin-glass behavior at low temperatures. The study offers an opportunity to tune the competition between charge/orbital ordering and ferromagnetism in half-doped manganites through heterostructure engineering.