Nd2- xCexCuO4±? Ultrathin Films Crystalline Properties

[--Ultrathin films of the electron-doped compound Nd2-xCexCuO4±? (NCCO) were realized by dc sputtering technique. The films were grown both on (001)-oriented SrTiO3 and nonstoichiometric SrTiO3 with Ti-rich defects. Also, the NCO parent compound, namely Nd2CuO4 , was used as buffer layer to improve the crystalline properties because of the very small lattice parameter mismatch, as well as compatible depositions conditions, compared to NCCO. The morphological and structural characterization were carried out on several samples, by means of surface analysis techniques and X-ray diffraction, in order to optimize the growth procedure.