Electric and magnetic modulation of fully strained dead layers in La0.67 Sr0.33 MnO3 films

We report the electrical transport and magnetic properties of the dead layer of La0.67 Sr0.33 MnO3 grown on LaAlO3 substrate under the influence of magnetic field and electric voltage. The electrical resistance of the dead layer shows exponential decrease with both magnetic field and electric voltage, leading to colossal magnetoresistance and electroresistance, respectively. However, the sample cannot be driven into a metallic state with the available magnetic field and electric voltage. At low temperatures, the magnetic-field dependence of both magnetization and resistance show remarkable hysteresis. Exchange bias effect was observed in the magnetization vs magnetic-field curves. Magnetic force microscope measurement reveals the coexistence of different magnetic phases in the dead layer. The results were discussed in terms of phase separation in the dead layer. This work demonstrates the presence of phase separation in the manganite dead layer and its tunability by magnetic field and electric voltage.