Preparation and characterization of epitaxial La0.5Sr0.5CoO3 films on (001) LaAlO3 by pulsed laser deposition

Abstract Thin films of La 0.5 Sr 0.5 CoO 3 were prepared in situ by pulsed laser deposition on (100)LaAlO 3 substrates. X-ray diffraction in Bragg-Brentano and four-circle geometry confirmed that full epitaxial films can be grown in a wide deposition temperature range, from 500 to 730 °C, compared with that reported previously. Resistivity versus temperature measurements revealed that the films grown at temperature lower than 650 °C were metallic. However, those fabricated at higher deposition temperatures showed a semiconducting behavior, similar to oxygen-deficient ones grown at the lower temperatures.