Effects of thermal annealing on the texture of La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ thin films

Thin films of La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ (LSMO) were prepared at 670 °C on LaAlO₃ (LAO) and SrTiO₃ (STO) substrates by liquid-delivery metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. X-ray diffraction analysis 2¸/¸ and pole figure scans showed that the films are epitaxial with (001)_LSMO//(001)_LAO and (001)_LSMO//(001)_STO. The crystal structure of LSMO/LAO was indexed as face-centered cubic with a double cell and LSMO/STO as simple cubic. Electron microscopy revealed square facets and elongated grain features. Films heat-treated between 700 and 800 °C on LAO resulted in a structural change, while those on STO showed an increase in texture.