Synthesis and enhanced low-field magnetoresistance in La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 /CuO composites

The (1−x)La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃+xCuO composites have been synthesized by a new liquid phase method. The XRD and SEM measurements reveal that little CuO is soluble in the structure of La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ and is mainly distributed at the grain boundary of La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃. As CuO content x increases, the magnetization M values increase until x=0.05 and M values decrease when x further increases at low temperature. For x=0.10, 0.20 and 0.30 composites, double metal-insulator transitions accompanying a single ferromagnetic transition are observed. Large low-field magnetoresistance is achieved for the composites and the largest magnetoresistance appeared when x=0.20.