Enhancement of the magnetotransport and magnetoresistive anisotropy in Sm0.55Sr0.45MnO3/Nd0.55Sr0.45MnO3 bilayers

In a sharp contrast to bulk Sm0.55Sr0.45MnO3 (SSMO) the SSMO films grown on LaAlO3 and SrTiO3 substrates exhibit insulating behavior with a negligible magnetoresistive effect. However, when these films are buffered by a thin layer of Nd0.55Sr0.45MnO3 a large low field magnetoresistance along with the bulklike properties are observed. These results are reproducible and suggest that the low field magnetoresistance and magnetoresistive anisotropy could be enhanced dramatically in multilayered manganite films. These changes are attributed to the differences in the strain states of these films. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3231441]