Growth control of stoichiometry in LaMnO₃ epitaxial thin films by pulsed laser deposition

We have studied structural, magnetic, and optical transport properties of LaMnO₃ (LMO) thin films grown on SrTiO₃. While the stoichiometric LMO is an insulating antiferromagnet, it tends to be a ferromagnetic insulator when grown as thin films. By exploring the majority of growth parameters, we have found that the bulk-like electronic and magnetic phases can be stabilized by growing thin films under reducing atmospheres and by using more energetic laser processes. These conditions are found to reduce the La deficiency in the film resulting in the greatly improved cation stoichiometry. Since oxides are prone to reduce the oxygen content and to alter the cation ratio under such growth conditions, it suggests that the cation and oxygen stoichiometries in complex oxide thin films can be improved by properly optimizing the growth parameters.