Thickness dependent properties of La-0.67 Ca-0.33 MnO3 thin films

Epitaxial thin films of La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 (LCMO) were prepared by pulsed las er deposition (PLD) on SrTiO3 (100) substrates. After deposition the films were in situ annealed for 1 h in oxygen (10(5) Pa, 780 degrees C). We studi ed the thickness dependence of the transport properties in order to address the relation between the microscopic structure and the metal-insulator tra nsition temperature T-MI. It could be demonstrated that T-MI decreases syst ematically from the bulk value T-MI = 276 K with decreasing film thickness. Details of the temperature dependence of rho and its magnetic field depend ence are discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.