Homogeneous Spectroscopic Properties in Manganite Films

S. SEIRO; YANINA FASANO; I. MAGGIO-APRILE; O. KUFFER; \O. FISCHER

JOURNAL OF MAGNETISM AND MAGNETIC MATERIALS

Año: 2007 vol. 310 p. 243 - 245

0304-8853

The correlation between topographic features and spectroscopic properties was studied by means of room-temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy on single-crystalline fully strained La0.77Ca0.23MnO3 films. Growth terraces are atomically flat and present similar semiconducting-like tunnel current–voltage characteristics. The STM-estimated gap is in agreement with the polaron binding energy obtained from the insulating-phase resistivity. Conductance maps at different voltages do not present recognizable spatial patterns. In conclusion, ‘extrinsic’ phase separation is not likely in the manganite films studied.