Proximity effects induced by a gold layer on La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 thin films

The authors report about La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 single crystal manganite thin films in interaction with a gold capping layer. With respect to uncoated manganite layers of the same thickness, Au-capped 4nm thick manganite films reveal a dramatic reduction (≃185K) of the Curie temperature TC and a lower saturation low temperature magnetization M0. A sizable TC reduction (≃60K) is observed even when an inert SrTiO3 layer is inserted between the gold film and the 4nm thick manganite layer, suggesting that this effect might have an electrostatic origin.