Metal-insulator transition in SrRuO3 induced by ion irradiation

We have studied the effect of He+ irradiation on the electrical resistivity and Curie temperature of ferromagnetic SrRuO3 thin films. An evolution fro m metallic to insulating behavior is observed when He+ ion fluence is incre ased, suggesting a metal-insulator transition. Damage by ion irradiation pr oduces a strong decrease of the Curie temperature. On the other hand, no si gnificant change in T-c (similar to 160 K) takes place in fresh samples gro wn at different substrate temperatures. We discuss the possible correlation between structural changes induced by irradiation, which reflect in an inc rease of the pseudocubic lattice parameter, and the observed depression of T-c. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(98)03349-X].