Modulation of persistent photoconductivity by electric-field-controlled strain in thin films of La0.39Pr0.24Ca0.37MnO3

Thin films of La0.39Pr0.24Ca0.37MnO3 (LPCMO) were epitaxially grown on 0.7PbMg(1/3)Nb(2/3)O(3)-0.3PbTiO(3) (PMN-PT) substrates. These LPCMO films exhibited low-temperature persistent photoconductivity (PPC) when illuminated by a visible light of 532 nm. Not only the resistance but also PPC were modulated by electric fields across PMN-PT. Detailed analysis and in situ x-ray diffraction indicate that such modulations were mainly due to the change of lattice deformation by applied electric fields via converse piezoelectric effect. It was also found that light and strain influence the phase competition in different ways. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4793534]