Electrical and magnetic properties of La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 films prepared by RF magnetron sputtering method for colossal magnetoresistance applications

La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 powders were prepared by solution combustion method. The electrical and magnetic properties of their thin films were investigated for colossal magnetoresistance applications. Sputter targets were prepared using the powders to deposit La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 thin films on SiO2 buffer layered Si substrate by RF magnetron sputtering. The particles were nano-sized and their specific surface area was 49.44 m(2)/g. This fact resulted in the decrease of sintering temperature by 300 degreesC. It was easy to get high purity La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 powders with perovskite structure. The maximum magnetoresistance ratio of 1210% was observed at 96 K. In this study, the La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 films showed the colossal magnetoresistance properties, even though the films were deposited on the amorphous SiO2 substrate and non-epitaxially. This is probably due to the high quality single phase of, the thin film. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.