Magnetic La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ Membranes Synthesized by Etching a Sr₃Al₂O₆ Sacrificial Layer Using an Intermediary Manganite Protection Layer

The integration of perovskite oxides onto flexible substrates has witnessed significant advancements owing to the development of an epitaxial lift-off technique utilizing a Sr3Al2O6 sacrificial layer. However, Sr3Al2O6 is susceptible to instability in both air and high-temperature oxygen atmospheres, potentially leading to degradation during the growth of the functional oxide layer. In this study, we investigate the use of an oxygen-deficient La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 as capping layer, and demonstrate its ability to stabilize Sr3Al2O6 films in ambient air. We successfully synthesized freestanding La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 membranes by etching this sacrificial layer and transferring them onto flexible polymer substrates. Importantly, the magnetic properties of the La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 films are preserved in these membranes. Our results underline that employing a thin manganite capping layer ensures both high structural quality and the preservation of functional properties in the resulting membranes.