Current-induced effect on resistivity and magnetoresistance of La0.67Ba0.33MnO3 manganite

The influence of dc biasing current on temperature dependence of resistivity and low-field magnetoresistance (MR) of La_0.67Ba_0.33MnO₃ bulk sample is reported. A prominent finding is the change in resistivity around the insulator-to-metal transition temperature (T_IM) and the change in MR around the ferromagnetic transition temperature (T_C). The decrease in MR around T_C at higher biasing current indicates a strong interaction between carrier spin and spin of Mn ions resulting in a higher alignment of Mn ion spins. Change in resistivity around T_IM is interpreted in the framework of percolative conduction model based on the mixed phase of itinerant electrons and localized magnetic polarons.     

Low temperature magnetoresistance in La1.32Sr1.68Mn2O7 layered manganite under hydrostatic pressure

The La_1.32Sr_1.68Mn₂O₇ layered manganite system has been studied by the low temperature electrical resistance and magnetoresistance under hydrostatic pressure up to 25 kbar. We have observe both, a Curie temperature (T_C) and a metal-insulator transition (T_MI) at 118 K in the ambient pressure. The applied pressure shifts the T_MI to higher temperature values and induces a second metal-insulator transition (T²_MI) at 90 K, in the temperature dependence of resistivity measurements. Also, the pressure suppresses the peak resistance abruptly at T_C. When an external field of 5 T is applied, we have observed a large negative magnetoresistance of 300% at the transition temperature and a 128% at 4.5 K. However, the increased pressure decreases the magnetoresistance ratio gradually. When the pressure reaches its maximum available value of 25 kbar, the magnetoresistance ratio decreases at a rate of 1.3%/kbar. From our experimental results, the decrease of magnetoresistance ratio with pressure is explained by the pressure induced canted spin state which is not favor for the spin polarized intergrain tunneling in layered manganites.     

Electrical conductivity and low field magnetoresistance in polycrystalline La1−xKxMnO3 pellets prepared by pyrophoric method

Electrical conductivity and magnetoresistance of a series of monovalent (K) doped La_1−xK_xMnO₃ polycrystalline pellets prepared by pyrophoric method have been reported. K doping increases the conductivity as well as the Curie temperature (T_C) of the system. Curie temperature increases from 260 to 309 K with increasing K content. Above the metal-insulator transition temperature (T>T_MI), the electrical resistivity is dominated by adiabatic polaronic model, while in the ferromagnetic region (50<T<T_MI), the resistivity is governed by several electron scattering processes. Based on a scenario that the doped manganites consist of phase separated ferromagnetic metallic and paramagnetic insulating regions, all the features of the temperature variation of the resistivity between ∼50 and 300 K are described very well by a single expression. All the K doped samples clearly display the existence of strongly field dependent resistivity minimum close to ∼30 K. Charge carrier tunneling between antiferromagnetically coupled grains explains fairly well the resistivity minimum in monovalent (K) doped lanthanum manganites. Field dependence of magnetoresistance at various temperatures below T_C is accounted fairly well by a phenomenological model based on spin polarized tunneling at the grain boundaries. The contributions from the intrinsic part arising from DE mechanism, as well as, the part originating from intergrannular spin polarized tunneling are also estimated.     

A structural, magnetostrictive and M?ssbauer study of Tb0.3Dy0.7(Fe0.9 T 0.1)1.95 alloys

The effect of IIIA metal and transition metalT substitution for Fe on crystal structure, magnetostriction and spontaneous magnetostriction, anisotropy and spin reorientation of a series of polycrystalline Tb_0.3 Dy_0.7 (Fe_0.9 T _0.1)_1.95 (T=Mn, Fe, Co, B, Al, Ga) alloys at room temperature were investigated systematically. It was found that the primary phase of the Tb_0.3 Dy_0.7 (Fe_0.9 T _0.1)_1.95 alloys is the MgCu₂-type cubic Laves phase structure for different substitution. The magnetostriction λ{ins} decrases greatly for the substitution of IIIA metal, B, Al and Ga, but is saturated more easily for Al and Ga substitution, showing that the Al and Ga substitution is beneficial to a decrease in the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of Tb_0.3 Dy_0.7 (Fe_0.9 T _0.1)_1.95 alloys. However, the substitution of transition metal Mn and Co decreases slightly the magnetostriction λ{ins}. It was also found that the effect of different substitutions on the spontaneous magnetostriction λ{in111} is distinct. The analysis of the M?ssbauer spectra indicates that the easy magnetization direction in the {110} plane deviates slightly from the main axis of symmetry for Al and Ga substitution, namely spin reorientation, but it does not change evidently for B, Mn and Co substitution.     

Magnetism, magnetocaloric effect and positive magnetoresistance in Fe-doped antipervoskite compounds SnCMn3−xFex (x=0.05-0.20)

The effects of Fe substitution on the structure, magnetic properties, magnetocaloric effect and positive magnetoresistance (MR) effect in antipervoskite compounds SnCMn_3−xFe_x (x=0.05-0.20) have been investigated systematically. Partial substitution of Fe for Mn leads to the monotonic reduction in both the Curie temperature T_C and saturated magnetization (M_S). It can be attributed to the reduction of electronic density of state at the Fermi energy by Fe-doping. The maximum values of magnetic entropy change (−ΔS_M) and positive MR gradually decrease as x increases, due to the broadening of magnetic phase transition. The refrigerant capacity increases initially with x≤0.05, then decreases gradually as x increases further, which is suggested to originate from the competition between the decreasing −ΔS_M and broadening temperature span. Our result indicates that the chemical doping on Mn site is an effective method for manipulating the properties of antiperovskite compounds AXMn₃.     

Effect of Al doping on the magnetic and electrical properties of layered perovskite La1.3Sr1.7Mn2−xAlxO7

The effect of Al substitution for Mn site in layered manganese oxides La_1.3Sr_1.7Mn_2−xAl_xO₇ on the magnetic and electrical properties has been investigated. It is interesting that all the samples undergo a similar and complex transition with lowing temperature; they transform from the two-dimensional short-range ferromagnetic order at T*, then enter the three-dimensional long-range ferromagnetic state at T_C, at last they display the canted antiferromagnetic state below T_N. T*, T_C and T_N are all reduced with Al content. Resistivity increases sharply with increasing Al concentration, and the metal-insulator transition disappears when x reaches 10%. Additionally, magnetoresistance (MR) effect is weakened. Al substitution dilutes the magnetic active Mn-O-Mn network and weakens the double exchange interaction, and further suppresses FM ordering and metallic conduction. Owing to the anisotropic interaction in the layered perovskite, the magnetic and electrical properties are more sensitive to Al doping level than those in ABO₃-type perovskite.     

Influence of Gd-doping in La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 on its structural and magneto-electrical properties

Bulk samples of gadolinium doped manganites with compositional formula La_0.7−xGd_xCa_0.3MnO₃ (x=0.0 and 0.1) were prepared by conventional solid state reaction method. After characterizing the samples by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer, a systematic investigation of electrical and magneto-transport properties has been investigated. The replacement of La ion by Gd results in a decrease of the metal-insulator transition temperature T_MI and the magnetoresistance as well as the resistivity are found to increase. The electrical resistivity in the entire temperature range fit well with the phenomenological percolation model, which is based upon an approach that the system consists of the phase separated ferromagnetic metallic and paramagnetic insulating regions.     

Magnetic properties of RFe1−xMnxO3 (R=Pr, Gd, Dy)

A novel magnetic transition was observed in a perovskite-type oxide of PrFe_1−xMn_xO₃ (R=Pr, Gd, Dy; 0<x<0.6). When iron ions in weak-ferromagnetic RFeO₃ are replaced by manganese ions, the Curie temperature T_C decreases monotonically as the Mn content increases, and a spin-reorientation transition from antiferromagnetism to weak-ferromagnetism appears at low temperature. The transition temperature T_R depends on the Mn content and increases with increasing x, coinciding with the T_C at a Mn content near x=0.5. The spin-reorientation transition seems to be caused by a change in the superexchange interaction and magnetocrystalline anisotropy introduced by the substitution of Mn. The effect of Mn-substitution on the electric resistivity was also studied and compared with that of Ca-substitution in the Pr_1−xCa_xFeO₃ system. Ca-substitution has a remarkable effect on the resistivity but Mn-substitution causes a slight change in it.     

Electronic transport and magnetic studies of La1−xCax−0.08Sr0.04Ba0.04MnO3

Lanthanum based mixed valence manganite system La_1−xCa_x−0.08Sr_0.04Ba_0.04MnO₃ (LCSBMO; x=0.15, 0.24 and 0.33) synthesized through the sol-gel route is systematically investigated in this paper. The electronic transport and magnetic susceptibility properties are analyzed and compared, apart from the study of unit cell structure, microstructure and composition. Second order phase transition is observed in all the samples and significant difference is observed between the insulator to metal transition temperature (T_MI) and paramagnetic (PM) to ferromagnetic (FM) transition temperature (T_C). In contrast to the insulating FM behaviour usually observed in La_1−xCa_xMnO₃ (LCMO) for x=0.15, a clear insulator to metal transition is observed for LCSBMO for the same percentage of lanthanum. The temperature dependent resistivity of polycrystalline pellets, when obeying the well studied law ρ=ρ_o+ρ₂T² for T<T_MI, is observed to differ significantly in the values of ρ_o and ρ₂, with the electrical conductivity increasing with x. The variable range hopping model has been found to fit resistivity data better than the small polaron model for T>T_MI. AC magnetic susceptibility study of the polycrystalline powders of the manganite system shows the highest PM to FM transition of 285 K for x=0.33.     

Structural, magnetotransport and morphological studies of Sb-doped La2/3Ba1/3MnO3 ceramic perovskites

We report here the structural, magnetotransport and morphological studies of Sb-doped La_2/3Ba_1/3Mn_1−xSb_xO₃ perovskite manganites. Pristine material La_2/3Ba_1/3MnO₃ (LBMO) shows two insulator-metal (I-M) transitions in the electrical resistivity-temperature (ρ-T) behavior. While the higher temperature transition (T_P1) at ∼340 K is reminiscent of the usual I-M transition in manganites, the lower temperature transition (T_P2) at ∼250 K has been ascribed to the grain boundary (GB) effects arising out of the ionic size mismatch between the ions present at the rare-earth site (La³⁺ and Ba²⁺). With Sb-doping T_P1 shifts to lower temperatures while T_P2 remains invariant up to 3% and shifts to lower temperature for 5%. Room temperature electrical resistivity and the peak values also increase successively with Sb-doping. Scanning electron micrographs of the samples exhibit a gradual increase in their grain sizes with Sb indicating a gradual decrease in the GB density. Shift of T_P1 with doping is explained on the basis of a competition between double-exchange and super-exchange mechanisms. The overall electrical resistivity increases and the shift in the electrical resistivity hump (T_P2) with Sb-doping is found related to be gradually decreasing GB density and the ensuing lattice strain increase at the GBs. The intrinsic magnetoresistance (MR) gets suppressed and extrinsic MR gets enhanced with Sb-doping. At T>T_P1, the electrical resistivity is found to follow the adiabatic polaron hopping model whereas the electron-magnon scattering is found to dominate in the metallic regime (T<T_P1).     

Large enhancement of room temperature magnetoresistance in Ag-added La0.67(Ca0.65Ba0.35)0.33MnO3

The electrical and magnetoresistant properties of La_0.67(Ca_0.65Ba_0.35)_0.33MnO₃/Ag_x (abbreviated by LCBMO/Ag_x) have been studied. The results show that Ag addition causes a decrease of resistivity dramatically and especially induces a large enhancement of room temperature magnetoresistance (MR). The room temperature MR ratio for x=0.27 sample in 10 kOe magnetic field is 41%, almost 20 times larger than that for x=0 sample. This enhancement is related to that the Curie temperature (T_c) of the sample is near room temperature, as well as the significant reduction of resistivity. The good fits of experimental results for x=0.27 sample to Brillouin function indicate that the MR behavior in the Ag added LCBMO is induced by the spin-dependent hopping of the electrons between the spin clusters, which is an intrinsic property of the CMR materials.     

Effects of Cr doping in electron-doped manganites La0.9Te0.1MnO3

The effects of Cr doping on Mn sites in the electron-doped manganites La_0.9Te_0.1MnO₃ have been studied by preparing the series La_0.9Te_0.1Mn_1−xCr_xO₃ (0.05≤x≤0.20). Upon Cr doping, both the Curie temperature T_C and magnetization M are suppressed. The resistivity measurements indicate that there exists a weak metal-insulator (M-I) transition for the sample with x=0.05, with an increase in the doping level, the M-I transition disappears and the resistivity increases. Thermopower S(T) exhibits a maximum near T_C for all samples. By fitting the S(T) and ρ(T) curves, it is found that the temperature dependences of both S(T) and ρ(T) in the high temperature paramagnetic (PM) region follow the small polaron conduction (SPC) mechanism for all samples. The fitting parameters obtained imply changes of both the average-hopping distance of the polarons and the polaron concentration with Cr doping in our studied samples. In the case of the thermal conductivity κ(T), the variation of κ(T) is analyzed based on the combined effects due to the suppression of the local Mn³⁺O₆ Jahn-Teller (JT) lattice distortion because of the substitution of Cr³⁺ for Mn³⁺ ions, which results in the increase in κ, and the introduction of the disorder due to Cr-doping, which contributes to the decrease in κ.     

Electroresistive and magnetoresistive properties of Nd0.7Sr0.3MnO3 after quenching under pressure of 9 GPa

Polycrystalline Nd_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ was quenched from 1300 K to 300 K and 80 K after it had been subjected to a high quasihydrostatic pressure of 9 GPa. Such high pressure and high temperature treatment (HPT) results in significant changes of the crystallochemical parameters—Mn-O lengths and Mn-O-Mn angles within unchanged lattice symmetry of the Pnma-type. A strong increase of the resistivity and a large decrease of the FM-PI transition temperature were detected for the Nd_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ HPT treated samples. The intrinsic characteristic T_MI(T_C) (T_MI is the metal-insulator and T_C is the ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition temperature) correlates with the change of the Mn-O(1)-Mn angle, which is consistent with the double exchange model of the ferromagnetic metallic state in manganites. Remarkable electroresistive (ER) and magnetoresistive (MR) effects appear after HPT treatment, which were not present in the starting Nd_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ sample. The structure sensitive properties such as resistivity, MR and ER effects correlate with the change of the nanograin sizes after HPT treatment. Nonlinear current-voltage characteristics showing a hysteresis appear for HPT treated samples at low temperatures. The transport in granular Nd_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ samples is likely defined by spin-dependent scattering of charge carriers inside the ferromagnetic metallic grains with embedded small charged isolating islands and by jumping over charged insulating barriers at the intergrain boundaries, which can be strongly affected by the external electric and magnetic fields.     

Enhancement of Curie temperature and room-temperature magnetoresistance in double perovskite (Sr1.6Ba0.4)FeMoO6

The effects of A-site average cation size 〈r_A〉 and anti-site defects on Curie temperature (T_C) and room-temperature magnetoresistance (MR) in (Sr_2−xBa_x)FeMoO₆ (x=0, 0.4 and 1.6) have been investigated. By Ba doping, not only the room-temperature MR but also the T_C have been enhanced. The larger MR in the Ba-doped samples compared with the prototype Sr₂FeMoO₆ is associated with the lower saturation field. The optimization of T_C and MR in (Sr_1.6Ba_0.4)FeMoO₆ other than in the reported (Sr_0.4Ba_1.6)FeMoO₆ can be understood according to the two competing effects: anti-site defects and chemical pressure.     

Temperature dependence of electroresistance for La0.67Ba0.33MnO3 manganite

The influence of dc biasing current on temperature dependence of resistance of La_0.67Ba_0.33MnO₃ bulk sample is reported. A decrease in the resistance (electroresistance) on the application of higher bias current is observed. The electroresistance is maximum at metal-insulator transition temperature (T_MI) and decreases when the temperature is either increased or decreased from T_MI. A two-phase model is proposed to explain the occurrence of electroresistance. The higher bias current leads to an increase in alignment of spins and thus, in turn, leads to an increase in spin stiffness coefficient and decrease in the resistance at T_MI.     

Magnetoelastic properties of GdMn6Sn6 intermetallic compound

We studied the thermal expansion and magnetostriction of polycrystalline samples of GdMn₆Sn₆ intermetallic compound with hexagonal HfGe₆Fe₆-type structure in the temperature range of 77-520 K. The thermal expansion measurement of the sample shows anomalous behavior around its T_C=434 K and T_M=309 K, possibly the point of collapse-like reduction of Mn moments. In addition, the isofield curves of anisotropic and volume magnetostriction reveal anomalies around paramagnetic to ferrimagnetic phase transition. The obtained experimental results are discussed in the framework of two-magnetic sublattices by bearing in mind the lattice parameter dependence of interlayer Mn-Mn exchange interaction in this layered compound. From the temperature dependence of magnetostriction values and considering the magnetostriction relation of a hexagonal structure, we attempt to determine the signs of some of the magnetostriction constants as well as a comparison of their orders of magnitude for this compound.     

Influence of Si and Co substitutions on magnetoelastic properties of R2Fe17 (R=Y, Er and Tm) intermetallic compounds

The magnetostriction of the off-stoichiometric R₂Fe₁₇-type intermetallic compounds based on R₂Fe_14−xCo_xSi₂ (R=Y, Er, Tm and x=0, 4) was measured, using the strain gauge method in the temperature range 77-460 K under applied magnetic fields up to 1.5 T. All compounds show sign change and reduction in magnetostriction values compared to the R₂Fe₁₇ compounds by Si substitution. For Y₂Fe₁₄Si₂ and Er₂Fe₁₄Si₂, saturation behaviour is observed near magnetic ordering temperature (T_C), whereas for Tm₂Fe₁₄Si₂, saturation starts from T>143 K. Also, Co substitution has different effects on the magnetostriction of R₂Fe₁₄Si₂ compounds. In Er₂Fe₁₀Co₄Si₂ and Tm₂Fe₁₀Co₄Si₂, saturation occurs below the spin reorientation temperature (T_SR). In addition, in Er₂Fe₁₄Si₂, a sign change occurs in the anisotropic magnetostriction (Δλ) as well as the volume magnetostriction (ΔV/V) at their T_SR values. The volume magnetostrictions of the Tm-containing compounds show an anomaly around their T_SR. In R₂Fe₁₄Si₂ compounds, parastrictive behaviour is also observed in ΔV/V near their T_C values. In addition, the magnetostriction of the sublattices is investigated. Results show that in R₂Fe₁₄Si₂ compounds, the rare-earth sublattice contribution to magnetostriction is negative and comparable to the iron sublattice, whereas, in R₂Fe₁₀Co₄Si₂ compounds, the rare-earth sublattice contribution is positive and larger than Fe sublattice. These results are discussed based on the effect of Si and Co substitutions on the anisotropy field of these compounds. Influence of the spin reorientation transition on the magnetostriction of these compounds is discussed in terms of the anisotropic sublattice interactions.     

A magnetic, magnetostrictive and Mössbauer study of Tb0.3Dy0.7−xPrx(Fe0.9Al0.1)1.95 alloys

The effect of Pr substitution for Dy on the magnetization, magnetostriction, anisotropy and spin reorientation of a series of Tb_0.3Dy_0.7−xPr_x(Fe_0.9Al_0.1)_1.95 alloys (x=0, 0.1, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, 0.35) at room temperature has been investigated. It was found that the magnetization and magnetostriction of the homogenized Tb_0.3Dy_0.7−xPr_x(Fe_0.9Al_0.1)_1.95 alloys decreases drastically with increasing x and the magnetostrictive effect disappears for x>0.2, but the spontaneous magnetostriction λ₁₁₁ increases approximately linearly with increasing x. Moreover, the magnetostriction exhibits slightly bigger value at x=0.1 than the free alloys and is saturated more easily with the magnetic field H, showing that a small amount of Pr substitution is beneficial to a decrease in the magnetocrystalline anisotropy. The analysis of the Mössbauer spectra indicated that the easy magnetization direction in the {1 1 0} plane deviates slightly from the main axis of symmetry with Pr concentration x, namely spin reorientation. Comparing with the Al substitution, the effect of Pr substitution for Dy on the spin reorientation is smaller.     

Magnetotransport properties and magnetocaloric effect in La0.67Ca0.33Mn1−xTMxO3 (TM=Cu,Zn) perovskite manganites

The magnetic and transport properties of the perovskites La_0.67Ca_0.33Mn_1-xTM_xO₃ were found to be sufficiently changed with the substitution of Mn-sites by other 3d transition-metal cations (TM=Cu,Zn; x=0.15). The values of T_C, T_M−I, and T_CMR were surveyed when Mn was replaced by Cu and Zn. The magnetic field induced resistivity and magnetic entropy change of these samples showed abrupt changes near T_C (194.2 and 201.5 K for Cu and Zn-doped case respectively) and attained the highest values among the doped cases (up to 20% Cu). The maximum values (obtained at H=4 kOe) of magnetoresistance ratio (CMR) were 27.8%, and 24.5% and of magnetic entropy change (−ΔS_M) were 3.9 and 3.2 J/kg K for Cu and Zn-doped, respectively.     

Ferromagnetic semiconductor Ge1−x−ySnxMnyTe with phase transformation of ferroelectric type

It is expected that joint existence of ferromagnetic properties and ferroelectric structural phase transition in diluted magnetic semiconductors IV-VI leads to new possibilities of these materials. Temperature of ferroelectric transition for such crystals can be tuned by the change of Sn/Ge ratio. Magnetic susceptibility, Hall effect, resistivity and thermoelectric power of Ge_1−x−ySn_xMn_yTe single crystals grown by Bridgeman method (x=0.083-0.115; y=0.025-0.124) were investigated within 4.2-300 K. An existence of FM ordering at T_C∼50 K probably due to indirect exchange interaction between Mn ions via degenerated hole gas was revealed. A divergence of magnetic moment temperature dependences at T?T_C in field-cooled and zero-field-cooled regimes is obliged to magnetic clusters which are responsible for superparamagnetism at T>T_C≈T_f (freezing temperature) and become ferromagnetic at T_C arranging spin glass state at T<T_f≈T_C. Phase transition of ferroelectric type at T≈46 K was revealed. Anomalous Hall effect which allows to determine magnetic moment was observed.