Growth and properties of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/YBa2Cu3O7−δ/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 epitaxial trilayer films

Abstract

We report the growth and properties of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/YBa2Cu3O7−δ/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 LSMO/YBCO/LSMO epitaxial trilayer films, fabricated on SrTiO3 substrate using pulsed laser deposition technique. From x-ray diffraction and high resolution x-ray diffraction measurements, it is confirmed that the grown trilayered films are single phase and epitaxial in nature. Magneto-transport and magnetic properties are found to be dependent on the thickness of YBCO spacer layer. We infer that for fixed thickness of top and bottom LSMO layers, superconductivity is completely suppressed. At 100 K, the hysteresis loops reveal the ferromagnetic signature of trilayered film. At room temperature, we obtain a butterfly type scenario, signifies the co-existence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interaction. In addition, at room temperature, the YBCO spacer layer allowing the top and bottom LSMO layers to interact antiferromagnetically.