Strain and Elemental Analysis of a La2/3Sr1/3MnO3/ZrO2 System
In this work, we studied the strain and elemental distribution in La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 (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).