Anisotropic magnetic and magnetotransport properties in morphologically distinct Nd0.6Sr0.4MnO3 thin films

TL;DR

This study explores how different surface morphologies in Nd0.6Sr0.4MnO3 thin films influence their magnetic and magnetotransport properties, highlighting potential for sensor applications.

Contribution

It demonstrates that surface morphology significantly affects magnetic anisotropy and magnetoresistance in Nd0.6Sr0.4MnO3 thin films, a novel insight for oxide-based device design.

Findings

Rod-type morphology enhances in-plane magnetic anisotropy.

Granular films exhibit butterfly-shaped low-field magnetoresistance.

Morphology greatly influences anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR).

Abstract

We investigate the magnetic and magnetotransport properties of nanostructured Nd0.6Sr0.4MnO3 (NSMO) thin films grown on (100) oriented SrTiO3 (STO) substrates. The thin films fabricated using the pulsed laser deposition technique have been found to possess two distinct surface morphologies: granular and nano rod type. Magnetization measurements have revealed that the films with rod-type morphology exhibit improved in-plane magnetic anisotropy. Magnetotransport studies have revealed that the granular thin films display a characteristic butterfly-shaped low-field magneto-resistive (LFMR) behavior. Furthermore, we investigate the anisotropic magneto-resistive (AMR) phenomenon in the samples and we find that morphology greatly affects AMR. Thin films with rod-type morphology show an enhanced AMR %. Such morphology dependent tunability in magnetoresistance properties over a wide temperature range is potentially interesting for developing oxide-based sensors and devices.