Effect of ba substitution on the microstructure and electrical conductivity of BaxCa1-xRuO3 thin films prepared by laser ablation

BaxCa1-xRuO3 (BCRO) thin films were prepared by laser ablation oil quartz substrates at a substrate temperature (T-sub) of 973 K and all oxygen pressure (Po-2) of 13 Pa. The effect of Ba substitution on the microstructure and electrical conductivity ((T) was investigated. Rectangular-shaped CaRuO3 (CRO) island grains grew in BCRO thin films at a Ba fraction (x) below 0.1 BCRO thin films prepared at x > 0.2 consisted of fine grains. BCRO thin films at x > 0.2 showed metallic conduction. whereas those with an island structure at x < 0. 1 showed semi-conducting behavior. The sigma increased from 2.5 x 10(3) S.m(-1) to 3.8 x 10(4) S.m(-1) with increasing x from 0.1 to 1.0.