Stress-induced effects in epitaxial La0.33Pr0.34Ca0.33MnO3 films

La-0.33 Pr-0.34 Ca-0.33 MnO3 thin films have been grown on (100) LaAlO3 and (100) SrTiO3 substrates by pulsed laser deposition, and the physical properties of those thin films have been studied through magnetic and electric transport measurements. The results show that compressive strain between the film and substrate favors the formation of the ferromagnetic metallic phase while suppressing the charge ordered insulating phase. On the contrary, tensile strain tends to enhance the ferromagnetic metallic phase while eliminating the charge ordered insulating phase. The reason could be that the strain induces change in the Mn-O bonding angle in the crystal lattice and thus modify the double exchange interaction.