Strain Driven Phase Decomposition in Ion-Beam Sputtered Pr_1−XCa_XMnO₃ Films

Figure 5

Detailed analysis of surface precipitates in PMO (sample shown in Figure 4(d)). The underlying PMO reveal two different twin domains with common [110] growth directions. (a) High-resolution image of a surface precipitates and top area of PMO. (b) FFT image of the surface precipitate. The selection for the FFT is marked in (a). (c) EELS spectrum of the oxygen K edge of a surface precipitate, which reveals the typical features of MnO [18]. (d) SEM image of the PMO surface showing very regular and well-orientated surface precipitates. The precipitate edges are parallel to the directions of the STO substrate.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)