Tuned AFM–FM coupling by the formation of vacancy complex in Gd0.6Ca0.4MnO3 thin film lattice

Abstract

The effect of in situ oxygen and vacuum annealings on the low bandwidth manganite Gd1−x Ca x MnO3 (GCMO) thin film with x = 0.4 was investigated. Based on the magnetic measurements, the AFM–FM coupling is suppressed by the vacuum annealing treatment via destroying the double exchange interaction and increasing the unit cell volume by converting the Mn4+ to the Mn3+. Consequently, resistance increases significantly compared to pristine film. The results are explained by a model obtained from the positron annihilation studies, where the vacuum annealing increased the annihilation lifetime in A and B sites due to the formation of vacancy complexes V A,B–V O, which was not the case in the pristine sample. The positron annihilation analysis indicated that most of the open volume defects have been detected in the interface region rather than on the subsurface layer and this result is confirmed by detailed x-ray reflection analysis. On the other hand, the effect of oxygen annealing on the unit cell volume and magnetization was insignificant. This is in agreement with positron annihilation results which demonstrated that the introduction of oxygen does not change the number of cation vacancies significantly. This work demonstrates that the modification of oxygen vacancies and vacancy complexes can tune magnetic and electronic structure of the epitaxial thin films to provide new functionalities in future applications.