Effect of lattice strain on growth mechanisms and electrical transport behavior of epitaxial CaRuO3 thin films

C. B. Eom, R. A. Rao, Q. Gan, R. J. Cava, J. J. Krajewski, Y. Suzuki, S. C. Gausepohl, M. Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Abstract

We have observed both metallic and semiconducting behavior in epitaxial thin films of the metallic oxide CaRuO3 deposited under identical conditions on (100) SrTiO3 substrates of varying crystalline quality. X-ray diffraction studies showed that while semiconducting films with enlarged unit cells were obtained on single crystal SrTiO3 substrates, metallic films with lattice parameters close to the bulk material grew on poor crystalline quality SrTiO3 substrates. The films deposited on (100) LaAlO3 substrates consistently showed metallic behavior. Atomic force microscope images suggest that the semiconducting films had a coherent two dimensional nucleation. In contrast, three dimensional island-like incoherent growth was seen in the metallic films. It is believed that in the coherent films a strain induced substitution of the small Ru4+ cations by the larger Ca2+ cations occurs, breaking the conduction pathway within the three dimensional network of the RuO6 octahedra and leading to a metal-insulator transition. This unique phenomenon - which is not observed in bulk material - can be significant in technologically important epitaxial perovskite oxide heterostructures.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)199-204
Number of pages6
JournalMaterials Research Society Symposium - Proceedings
Volume477
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997
Externally publishedYes
EventProceedings of the 1997 MRS Spring Meeting - San Francisco, CA, USA
Duration: Apr 1 1997Apr 4 1997

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effect of lattice strain on growth mechanisms and electrical transport behavior of epitaxial CaRuO3 thin films'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this