TRANSPORT PROPERTIES OF Ag-DOPED La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 THIN FILMS ON SILICON SUBSTRATE

Ag -doped La 0.7 Ca 0.3 MnO 3 (LCMO) films were prepared on silicon substrate by RF magnetron sputtering. The dependences of transport properties on annealing temperature were explored. It is shown that the resistivity of the samples decreases and the metal–insulator transition temperature shifts to higher temperature with the increase in annealing temperature. Two metal–insulator transition temperatures are presented in the R – T plots of Ag -doped LCMO films, which can be explained by the Ag 1+ substitution of La 3+ to form La 1-x Ag x MnO 3 compound. Compared with LCMO thin films, Ag -doping can observably improve the TM-I and decrease the resistivity of the samples.