Effects of the surface layer of La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 thin films

The surface layer effects on transport in epitaxial La_2/3Ca_1/3MnO₃ thin films are studied. It was found that the two-probe resistance is nonlinear which is enhanced with decreasing temperature. Similar to the resistance of intrinsic La_2/3Ca_1/3MnO₃ thin films reported in the literature, the apparent dynamic contact resistance behaves semiconducting at high temperatures, passes through a peak, and displays a metallic behavior. At lowest temperatures, the curve of the contact resistance versus temperature shows a little upturn. The temperature dependent work function difference between the surface layer and the thin film underneath, together with the tunneling process across either the resulting charge depleted layer or the semiconducting surface layer is used to explain our observations.