title: Surface nanostructures in manganite films.
abstract: Ultrathin manganite films are widely used as active electrodes in organic spintronic devices. In this study, a scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) investigation with atomic resolution revealed previously unknown surface features consisting of small non-stoichiometric islands. Based upon this evidence, a new mechanism for the growth of these complex materials is proposed. It is suggested that the non-stoichiometric islands result from nucleation centres that are below the critical threshold size required for stoichiometric crystalline growth. These islands represent a kinetic intermediate of single-layer growth regardless of the film thickness, and should be considered and possibly controlled in manganite thin-film applications.
authors.affiliation: Istituto per lo studio dei materiali Nanostrutturati-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISMN-CNR), Via Gobetti 101, Bologna40129, (Italy).
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gambardella
authors.affiliation: Istituto per lo studio dei materiali Nanostrutturati-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISMN-CNR), Via Gobetti 101, Bologna40129, (Italy).
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Graziosi
authors.affiliation: Istituto per lo studio dei materiali Nanostrutturati-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISMN-CNR), Via Gobetti 101, Bologna40129, (Italy).
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bergenti
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93106, (USA).
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prezioso
authors.affiliation: Centro Ricerche FIAT, Strada Torino 50, Orbassano 10043, (Italy).
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pullini
authors.affiliation: Istituto per lo studio dei Materiali Magnetici-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IMM-CNR), Via Gobetti 101, Bologna 40129, (Italy).
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milita
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 183, Modena 41100, (Italy).
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biscarini
authors.affiliation: Istituto per lo studio dei materiali Nanostrutturati-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISMN-CNR), Via Gobetti 101, Bologna40129, (Italy).
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Dediu