Thin films of double perovskite Sr2FeMoO6:: Growth, optimization, and study of the physical and magnetotransport properties of films grown on single-crystalline and polycrystalline SrTiO3 substrates

Thin films of Sr2FeMoO6 have been deposited on single-crystalline and polycrystalline SrTiO3 substrates by pulsed laser deposition from a stoichiometric target. In order to obtain high-quality films, the deposition parameters were systematically optimized. The films grown under optimized conditions show properties comparable to those of bulk Sr2FeMoO6 single crystals. Surprisingly, polycrystalline films obtained by depositing on polycrystalline SrTiO3 substrates do not show any significant low-field magnetoresistance (MR), contrary to expectations for a spin-polarized material. However, after controlled annealing-induced alteration of the grain-boundary properties, a development of the low-field MR feature is clearly observed., The occurrence of the low-field MR is accompanied by nonlinearity in the current-voltage characteristics. These results are analyzed in the light of the prevalent understanding of the properties of this double perovskite material. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.1533831].