Strain and Elemental Analysis of a La_2/3Sr_1/3MnO₃/ZrO₂ System

In this work, we studied the strain and elemental distribution in La_2/3Sr_1/3MnO₃ (LSMO) doped with ZrO₂ using analytical TEM techniques. ZrO₂ forms non-magnetic nanoparticles that introduce anomalous magnetic anisotropy and modifications to the electric transport properties of the LSMO thin film [1]. The spin, charge, and orbital ordering in LSMO are extremely sensitive to local structural and elemental changes. Using electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) in a probe-aberration-corrected JEOL JEM-ARM200CF, the atomic resolution elemental distribution of La, Sr, Mn, Zr and O, and the Mn valence state variation at the interface between LSMO and ZrO₂ were observed. Geometrical phase analysis (GPA) of high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) images allowed us to measure the strain around the interface. These results provide a basis for the understanding of the origins of the transport anomalies.

[1] Gao, Y.Z., Zhang, J.C., Fu, X.W., Cao, G.X., Habermeier, H.U., Progress in Natural science: Materials International, 23 (2013) 127-132

This research has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Program [FP/2007-2013] under grant agreement no. 312483 (ESTEEM2).