Fachgruppe Nanostrukturierte Materialien    

Perovskites form a class of promising materials for the development of multifunctional devices but require reliable strategies for forming electrical contacts without compromising functionality. We explore the interactions of a range of metal contacts with ferromagnetic oxide La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) and discuss their impact on the magnetic, structural, and chemical properties of the oxide. Although the noble metals gold and silver have negligible impact, metals typically used as adhesion layers, such as titanium and chromium, drive substantial reduction of the oxide, impairing its performance. These effects can be suppressed by inserting a thin barrier layer, such as the conductive oxide SrRuO3.