Strain-Induced Cluster Glass State in LaMnO3 Films

Strain effect has great influence on the magnetic properties of manganite films. Here, we report a new phenomenon in which the biaxial tensile strain can induce the formation of the cluster glass state in LaMnO3 (LMO) films. By comparing the properties of the LMO films grown on the LaAlO3, SrTiO3, and MgO substrates, the mechanism of the formation of the cluster glass state in LMO films was investigated in depth. We demonstrate that the formation of the cluster glass state in LMO films is due to the biaxial tensile strain, which leads to the competition between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions by changing the percentage of Mn3+ and Mn4+ ions in the films. Our work demonstrates that strain is an important factor in the formation of the cluster glass state in manganite films.