Magnetic La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 Membranes Synthesized by Etching a Sr3Al2O6 Sacrificial Layer Using an Intermediary Manganite Protection Layer

Abstract

The integration of perovskite oxides onto flexible substrates has witnessed significant advancements owing to the development of an epitaxial lift-off technique utilizing a Sr₃Al₂O₆ sacrificial layer. However, Sr₃Al₂O₆ is susceptible to instability in both air and high-temperature oxygen atmospheres, potentially leading to degradation during the growth of the functional oxide layer. In this study, we investigate the use of an oxygen-deficient La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ as capping layer, and demonstrate its ability to stabilize Sr₃Al₂O₆ films in ambient air. We successfully synthesized freestanding La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ membranes by etching this sacrificial layer and transferring them onto flexible polymer substrates. Importantly, the magnetic properties of the La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ films are preserved in these membranes. Our results underline that employing a thin manganite capping layer ensures both high structural quality and the preservation of functional properties in the resulting membranes.