Epitaxy, strain, and composition effects on metal-insulator transition characteristics of SmNiO{sub 3} thin films

Journal Article · Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3598055· OSTI ID:21538461

Aydogdu, Gulgun H; Ha, Sieu D; Viswanath, B; Ramanathan, Shriram ^[1]

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1. School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 (United States)

SmNiO{sub 3} (SNO) thin films were deposited on LaAlO{sub 3} (LAO), SrTiO{sub 3}, SrLaAlO{sub 4}, Si, and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} (sapphire) substrates by RF magnetron sputtering and studies were conducted to understand how film structure and composition influence the insulator-metal transition properties. It is observed that the compressive strain induces the insulator to metal transition (MIT), while tensile strain suppresses it. In the case of non-epitaxial films, semiconducting behavior is obtained on sapphire over a broad temperature range, while on heavily-doped Si substrate; an MIT is seen in out-of-plane resistance measurement. In addition, thickness dependence on the resistance behavior and nickel oxidation state has been examined for epitaxial SNO films on LAO substrates. Fine control of the MIT by modifications to the mismatch strain and thickness provides insights to enhance the performance and the functionality of these films for emerging electron devices.

• OSTI ID: 21538461
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 109, Issue 12; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3598055; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ALUMINATES
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
COMPRESSION STRENGTH
DOPED MATERIALS
EPITAXY
LANTHANUM COMPOUNDS
LAYERS
MAGNETRONS
NICKEL COMPOUNDS
SAMARIUM COMPOUNDS
SAPPHIRE
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
STRAINS
STRONTIUM COMPOUNDS
STRONTIUM TITANATES
SUBSTRATES
TENSILE PROPERTIES
THIN FILMS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CORUNDUM
CRYSTAL GROWTH METHODS
ELECTRON TUBES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FILMS
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
MICROWAVE TUBES
MINERALS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS
TITANATES
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS