Evaluation of manganite films on silicon for uncooled bolometric applications

Pulsed-laser-deposited polycrystalline/amorphous films of mixed-valent manganites [La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 (LCMO), La0.5Sr0.5MnO3 (LSMO), La0.5Ba0.5MnO3 (LBMO), and (La0.6Pr0.4)(0.67)Ca0.33MnO3 (LPCMO)] grown at low temperature (450 degreesC) on single crystal (001) silicon substrate are evaluated for uncooled bolometric applications. It is shown that the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) and electrical noise (S-v) depend on the chemical composition. The optimum performance is found for LCMO with TCR of similar to7% K-1 and spectral noise similar to8.9x10(-13) V-2/Hz. In LBMO and LSMO the noise is much lower, but so is the TCR (1.5%-2% K-1). In LPCMO the TCR is high (similar to10% K-1) and the noise is as well. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.