Sm<Subscript>0.55</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.45</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/Nd<Subscript>0.55</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.45</Subscript> MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> heteroepitaxial structure: Optical and magnetotransport properties

Sm_0.55Sr_0.45MnO₃/Nd_0.55Sr_0.45MnO₃ heterostructure consisting of layers with different Curie temperatures is studied. By comparing data for IR transmission, resistivity, magnetotransmission, magnetoresistance, and Kerr effect measured on the side of the film and substrate, the Curie temperatures of the layers are determined and the contributions of the layers to the magnetoresistance and magnetotransmission are estimated. A weak temperature dependence of the magnetotransmission and magnetoresistance makes manganites with a colossal magnetoresistance and magnetotransmission candidate materials for devices without temperature stabilization.     

Magnetocaloric effect in the Sm<Subscript>0.55</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.45</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganite

The magnetocaloric effect ΔT has been studied by a direct method in two samples of the manganite Sm_0.55Sr_0.45MnO₃, namely, a single crystal (sample A) and a ceramic sample (sample C). The temperature dependences of the ΔT effect of both samples exhibit a maximum at T _max = 143.3 K for the sample A and T _max = 143 K for the sample C. In these maxima, the values of the ΔT effect are 0.8 and 0.4 K in the magnetic field H = 14.2 kOe for the samples A and C, respectively. In addition, the ΔT(T) curve of the sample A has a minimum at T _min = 120 K, in which ΔT = −0.1 K. The maximum value of the ΔT effect increases with an increase in the magnetic field H in the range of magnetic fields up to 14.2 kOe, and the rate of this increase at H > 8 kOe is higher than that at H < 8 kOe. These features of the ΔT effect are explained by the presence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic A- and CE-type clusters in the samples.     

Spontaneous generation of electric voltage in a single crystal of Sm<Subscript>0.55</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.45</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Spontaneous generation of electric voltage has been found in a Sm_0.55Sr_0.45MnO₃ single crystal grown by floating zone melting with cooling in oxygen. The maximum voltage of 60 μV has been observed in the region of temperatures corresponding, simultaneously, to destruction of the CE-type antiferromagnetic ordering and charge ordering in some clusters. The maximum voltage remains unchanged for 24 h and decreases by 45% in a magnetic field of 14.2 kOe. It has been shown that the spontaneous voltage is caused by the presence of regions with different electric charges in the sample.     

Anisotropy of magnetic properties of Sm<Subscript>0.55</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.45</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> single crystals

Anisotropy of the magnetic properties of Sm_0.55Sr_0.45MnO₃ single crystals has been studied. A significant increase in the antiferromagnetic component of magnetization in the case of orientation of an external magnetic field H close to the c axis has been found. Magnetization for a field lying in the ab plane seems typical of a ferromagnet. Anisotropy of susceptibility reaches 2.2 in weak fields and nearly vanishes at H > 1 T.     

The giant volume magnetostriction and colossal magnetoresistance in Eu<Subscript>0.55</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.45</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganite

A doped manganite with the composition Eu_0.55Sr_0.45MnO₃ exhibits giant negative magnetostriction and colossal negative magnetoresistance at temperatures in the vicinity of the magnetic phase transformation (T～41 K). In the temperature interval 4.2 K≤T ≤40 K, the isotherms of magnetization, volume magnetostriction, and resistivity exhibit jumps at the critical field strength H_c1, which decreases with increasing temperature. At 70 K ≤T ≤120 K, the jumps on the isotherms are retained, but the shapes of these curves change and the H_c1 value increases with the temperature. At H<H_c1, the magnetoresistance is positive and exhibits a maximum at 41 K; at H>H_c1, the magnetoresistance becomes negative, passes through a minimum near 41 K and then reaches a colossal value. The observed behavior is explained by the existence of three phases in Eu_0.55Sr_0.45MnO₃, including a ferromagnetic (in which the charge carriers concentrate due to a gain in the s-d exchange energy) and two antiferromagnetic phases (of the A and CE types). The volumes of these phases at low temperatures are evaluated. It is shown that the colossal magnetoresistance and the giant volume magnetostriction are related to the ferromagnetic phase formed as a result of the magnetic-field-induced transition of the CE-type antiferromagnetic phase to the ferromagnetic state.     

Peculiarities of magnetic,galvanomagnetic, elastic,and magnetoelastic properties of Eu<Subscript>0.55</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.45</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Magnetic, elastic, magnetoelastic, transport, and magnetotransport properties of the Eu_0.55Sr_0.45MnO₃ ceramics have been studied. A break was detected in the temperature dependence of electrical resistivity ρ(T) near the temperature of the magnetic phase transformation (41 K), with the material remaining an insulator down to the lowest measurement temperature reached (ρ=10⁶ Ω cm at 4.2 K). In the interval 4.2≤T≤50 K, the isotherms of the magnetization, volume magnetostriction, and ρ were observed to undergo jumps at the critical field H_C1, which decreases with increasing T. For 50≤T≤120 K, the jumps in the above curves persist, but the pattern of the curves changes and H_C1 grows with increasing T. The magnetoresistance Δρ/ρ = (ρ _H ?ρ_H=0)/ρ _H is positive for H<H_C1 and passes through a maximum at 41 K, where Δρ/ρ = 6%. For H>H_C1, the magnetoresistance is negative, passes through a minimum near 41 K, and reaches a colossal value of 3×10⁵ % at H=45 kOe. The volume magnetostriction is negative and attains a giant value of 4.5×10^?4atH=45 kOe. The observed properties are assigned to the existence of three phases in Eu_0.55Sr_0.45MnO₃, namely, a ferromagnetic (FM) phase, in which carriers are concentrated because of the gain in s-d exchange energy, and two antiferromagnetic (AFM) phases of the A and CE types. Their fractional volumes at low temperatures were estimated to be as follows: ～3% of the sample volume is occupied by the FM phase; ～67%, by the CE-type AFM phase; and ～30%, by the A-type AFM phase.     

Effect of a magnetic field on the thermal and kinetic properties of the Sm<Subscript>0.55</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.45</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3.02</Subscript> manganite

The temperature and magnetic-field dependences of the heat capacity, thermal conductivity, thermopower, and electrical resistivity of the Sm_0.55Sr_0.45MnO_3.02 ceramic material are studied in the temperature range 77–300 K and in magnetic fields up to 26 kOe. It is revealed that the quantities under investigation exhibit anomalous behavior due to a magnetic phase transition at the Curie temperature T_C. An increase in the magnetic field strength H leads to an increase in the Curie temperature T_C and a jump in the heat capacity ΔC_p at T_C. The temperature dependences of the measured quantities are characterized by hystereses that are considerably suppressed in a magnetic field of 26 kOe and depend neither on the thermocycling range nor on the rate of change in the temperature. The thermal conductivity K at temperatures above T_C shows unusual behavior for crystalline solids (dK/dT>0) and, upon the transition to a ferromagnetic state, drastically increases as a result of a decrease in the phonon scattering by Jahn-Teller distortions. It is demonstrated that the hystereses of the studied properties of the Sm_0.55Sr_0.45MnO_3.02 manganite are caused by a jumpwise change in the critical temperature due to variations in the lattice parameters upon the magnetic phase transition.     

Particle size effect on magnetotransport properties of nanocrystalline Nd<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Nanocrystalline samples with an average particle size of 40 and 52 nm have been synthesized by citrate-complex auto-ignition method. Magnetic properties of the samples show para- to ferromagnetic transition at around 135 K. The electron magnetic resonance (EMR) study on these samples indicates the presence of coexistence of two magnetic phases below 290 K. Electrical resistivity follows variable range hopping (VRH) mechanism in the paramagnetic regime. The magnetoresistance (MR) data has been analysed by spin dependent hopping between the localized spin clusters together with the phase-separation phenomenon. These clusters are assumed to be formed by distribution of canted spins and defects all over the nanoparticle. In addition, the hopping barrier depends on the magnetic moment orientation of the clusters. The magnetic moments of the clusters are narrowly oriented in ferro- and are randomly oriented in paramagnetic phase. The ferromagnetic phase contributes to the total MR at low applied magnetic fields whereas the paramagnetic phase contributes at relatively high fields in both the samples. The average cluster size in ferromagnetic phase is bigger than that in paramagnetic phase. It is also observed that the cluster size, in ferromagnetic phase, in 52 nm sample is bigger than that in the 40 nm sample. However, the average cluster size in paramagnetic phase is almost same in both the samples.     

Metal-insulator transition in a radiation-disordered La<Subscript>0.85</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.15</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganite

The temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity ρ(T) and the ac magnetic susceptibility χ(T, H = 0) are thoroughly investigated for a perovskite-like lanthanum manganite, namely, La_0.85Sr_0.15MnO₃, which is preliminarily exposed to neutron irradiation with a fluence _F = 2 × 10¹⁹ cm^?2 and then annealed at different temperatures ranging from 200 to 1000°C. The results of the electrical resistance measurements demonstrate that neutron irradiation of the samples leads to the disappearance of the low-temperature insulating phase. As the annealing temperature increases, the insulating phase is not restored and the manganite undergoes a transformation into a metallic phase. Analysis of the magnetic properties shows that, under irradiation, the ferromagnet-paramagnet phase transition temperature T_C decreases and the magnetic susceptibility is reduced significantly. With an increase in the annealing temperature, the phase transition temperature T_C and magnetic susceptibility χ(_{T, H} = 0) increase and gradually approach values close to those for an unirradiated sample. This striking difference in the behavior of the electrical and magnetic properties of the radiation-disordered La_0.85Sr_0.15MnO₃ manganite is explained qualitatively.     

Positive magnetoresistance of La<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/C Composites at room temperature

Two-phase composites xLa_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃/(100–x)C (x = 5–85 mass %) have been synthesized. The magnetoresistive properties of these materials in magnetic fields from 0 to 15 kOe have been investigated. It has been shown that, at room temperature, the positive isotropic magnetoresistance for samples with x = 50–60 mass % reaches 15%.     

Magnetotransport characteristics of strained La<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> epitaxial manganite films

The electrical and magnetic characteristics of La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ (LSMO) epitaxial manganite films are investigated by different methods under conditions when the crystal structure is strongly strained as a result of mismatch between the lattice parameters of the LSMO crystal and the substrate. Substrates with lattice parameters larger and smaller than the nominal lattice parameter of the LSMO crystal are used in experiments. It is shown that the behavior of the temperature dependence of the electrical resistance for the films in the low-temperature range does not depend on the strain of the film and agrees well with the results obtained from the calculations with allowance made for the interaction of electrons with magnetic excitations in the framework of the double-exchange model for systems with strongly correlated electronic states. Investigations of the magneto- optical Kerr effect have revealed that an insignificant (0.3%) orthorhombic distortion of the cubic lattice in the plane of the NdGaO₃(110) substrate leads to uniaxial anisotropy of the magnetization of the film, with the easy-magnetization axis lying in the substrate plane. However, LSMO films on substrates (((LaAlO₃)_0.3+(Sr₂AlTaO₆)_0.7)(001)) ensuring minimum strain of the films exhibit a biaxial anisotropy typical of cubic crystals. The study of the ferromagnetic resonance lines at a frequency of 9.76 GHz confirms the results of magnetooptical investigations and indicates that the ferromagnetic phase in the LSMO films is weakly inhomogeneous.     

Study of mechanochemically prepared nanocrystalline La<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The nanocrystalline La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ (LSM) is prepared by varying the revolutions per minute and milling time of planetary monomill during the mechanochemical method. The LSM forms in a relatively shorter milling time with an increase in the milling speed from 250 to 600 rpm. The structural phase transition from orthorhombic to rhombohedral phase in the LSM prepared by ball milling at the speed 250 rpm for 36 h is seen due to sintering it at 700 °C for 4 h. The crystallite size reduces with the increase in both the milling speed and the milling time individually or combined. The microhardness (HV) and sintered density increase with the reduction in the crystallite size. The temperature-activated transition temperature is suppressed by reducing the grain size in the nanometer range. The electrical dc conductivity increases with the reduction in the grain/crystallite size.     

Large magnetic entropy change in Nd<Subscript>2/3</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>1/3</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

In order to search for new materials for the application of magnetic refrigeration, the polycrystalline perovskite compound Nd_2/3Sr_1/3MnO₃ was prepared by a solid-state method. The dependence of the magnetization on the applied field and temperature was measured near the Curie temperature. In terms of Maxwells equation, the temperature dependence of the absolute value of the isothermal magnetic entropy change |S_M| at various applied fields from 1 T to 5 T was determined. The results showed that a large magnetic entropy change was observed in this compound. The maximum magnetic entropy change |S_M^max|can reach 3.25 J/kgK with an applied field of 1 T at the Curie temperature of 257.5 K, which equals that of Gd. At 5 T applied field, it is 7.57 J/kgK. Such good magnetocaloric properties make this compound a promising candidate for the application of magnetic refrigeration in the room-temperature range. PACS 74.25.Ha; 75.30.-m; 75.30.Sg; 75.50.-y; 75.60.-d     

NO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-sensing properties of La<Subscript>0.65</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.35</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> synthesized by self-propagating combustion

Ultrafine-structure La_0.65Sr_0.35MnO₃ (LSM) powders synthesized by self-propagating combustion method have been used to fabricate sensing electrodes (SEs) for NO₂ mixed-potential sensors based on yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ). This type of sensor was found to provide better NO₂ sensitivity at 500 °C than sensors with LSM powders synthesized by traditional solid-state methods. The response values of the sensor have good linear relationship (sensitivity 36.6 mV/decade and linear fit 0.99) with the logarithm of NO₂ concentration varying from 30 to 500 ppm. The influence of sintering temperature (1000, 1100, 1200, and 1300 °C) on sensor response was also examined and was found to have a significant effect on the morphology of LSM-SEs. Moreover, in the presence of NO, CO₂, CO, and NO₂, the sensor exhibited good NO₂ selectivity.     

Crystal and magnetic structures and physical properties of the Sm<Subscript>0.37</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.63</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganite

The ¹⁵²Sm_0.37Sr_0.63MnO₃ manganite is investigated using neutron diffraction. The parameters of the crystal and magnetic structures of the manganite are determined. The diffraction data are compared with the transport and magnetic characteristics of this compound. A comparison is performed between the ¹⁵²Sm_0.37Sr_0.63MnO₃ and ¹⁵²Sm_0.45Sr_0.55MnO₃ manganites. Although these compounds differ insignificantly in the strontium doping level, are homogeneous antiferromagnets, and do not exhibit a colossal negative magnetoresistance, they have different crystal symmetries (tetragonal I4/mcm and orthorhombic Pnma), differ in the type of spin ordering (C-type antiferromagnetic and A-type antiferromagnetic ordering), are characterized by different orbital polarizations (\(d_{3z^2 - r^2 } \) and \(d_{x^2 - y^2 } \)), and possess one-and two-dimensional magnetic and transport properties, respectively. The critical concentration range in which samarium strontium manganites undergo a concentration structural transition from the orthorhombic to tetragonal crystal symmetry with a change in the type of orbital and magnetic order is revealed.     

Effect of the disorder parameter on the magnetic,electrical, galvanomagnetic,elastic, and magnetoelastic properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis><Subscript>0.55</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.45</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganites

This paper reports on a study of the magnetic, transport, magnetotransport, elastic, and magnetoelastic properties of the R_0.55Sr_0.45MnO₃ ceramics (R=Sm, Eu_0.40Nd_0.15, Tb_0.25Nd_0.30) with the same carrier concentration and identical tolerance factor but which differ in the cation disorder parameter σ². It was found that the Curie temperature T_C decreases linearly with increasing σ². An increase in σ² results in an increase in the maximum electrical resistivity and an increased jump in the temperature dependence of linear thermal expansion near T_C, as well as in a decrease in magnetoresistance and magnetostriction. For T>T_C, one observes an abrupt increase in magnetostriction, magnetization, and magnetoresistance in a critical FIeld H_C1 which grows with increasing temperature. The value of H_C1 determined at fixed T/T_C decreases with increasing σ².     

Acoustical investigations of a La<Subscript>0.75</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.25</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> single crystal

The acoustical, resistive, and magnetic properties of a La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ lanthanum manganite single crystal are investigated in the temperature range involving the second-order magnetic phase transition. The acoustical measurements are performed by the pulse-echo method in the frequency range 14–90 MHz. It is found that, as the temperature decreases, the velocity of a longitudinal acoustic wave propagating along the [111] axis in the single crystal drastically increases at temperatures below the critical point of the magnetic phase transition. No dispersion of the acoustic velocity is revealed. A sharp increase in the acoustic velocity is accompanied by the appearance of an acoustical absorption peak. The observed effects are discussed with due regard for the interaction of acoustic waves with the magnetic moments of the manganese ions.     

Kinetics of magnetization reversal in a thin La<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganite film

The kinetics of magnetization reversal of a thin LSMO film has been studied for the first time. It is shown that the magnetic domain structure critically depends on the conditions of structure formation. In the demagnetized state (after zero-field cooling from T _c ), a maze-like domain microstructure with perpendicular magnetization is formed in the film. However, after field cooling and/or saturating magnetization by a field of arbitrary orientation, the [110] direction of spontaneous magnetization in the film plane is stabilized; this pattern corresponds to macrodomains with in-plane magnetization. Further film magnetization reversal (both quasi-static and pulsed) from this state is implemented via nucleation and motion of 180° “head-to-head” domain walls. Upon pulse magnetization reversal, the walls “jump” at a distance proportional to the applied field strength and then undergo thermally activated drift. All dynamic characterisitcs critically depend on the temperature when the latter varies around the room temperature.     

Iron-induced magnetic,transport and magnetoresistance behavior in Nd<Subscript>0.67</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.33</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> epitaxial films

The effects of Fe doping on Mn site in the colossal magnetoresistive film, Nd_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ have been studied by preparing the series Nd_0.67Sr_0.33Mn_1-xFe_xO₃ (x=0,0.05 and 0.1). Upon doping, no structural changes have been found. However, the Curie temperature, the associated metal-to-insulator transition temperature and the magnetization decrease drastically with Fe doping. The resistivity in the paramagnetic regime for all the samples follows Emin–Holsteins theory of small polaron. The polaron activation energy, W_p and resistivity coefficient, A increase with Fe doping. This effect may be ascribed to the fact that upon Fe doping, the long-range ferromagnetic order is destroyed and, therefore, W_p is enhanced in the system. As compared to the La-based system, Fe doping has a stronger tendency to destabilize the long-range ferromagnetic order in the Nd-based system. Large MR (as high as 90%) observed in the epitaxial NSMFO film may be attributed to the good lattice-matching between the grown film and substrate. PACS 75.47.Gk; 75.47.Lx; 75.70.-i     

Magnetotransport properties of nano-constriction array in La<Subscript>0.67</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.33</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> film

Nano-constriction array in La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ film was fabricated by using ion beam etching masked by a monolayer of packed and ordered array of SiO₂ microspheres. Nano-constrictions of around 50 nm in width were fabricated. The low field magnetoresistance (LFMR) exhibited in the samples were observed to be current dependent and the I-V characteristics of the film were found to be nonlinear. These observations were attributed to the co-existence of the ferromagnetic regions and the nano-constricted region of weakened ferromagnetic coupling where Mn³⁺-O-Mn⁴⁺ bond were distorted due to the ion beam bombardment. The spin polarized bias current would strengthen local ferromagnetic coupling when passing through this nano-constricted regions. This current effect is relatively large comparing to the external magnetic field to the drop of resistance.