A Comparative Study of Angle Dependent Magnetoresistance in [001] and [110] La<Subscript>2/3</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>1/3</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The angle dependent magnetoresistance study on [001] and [110] La_2/3Sr_1/3MnO₃ thin films shows that the anisotropy energy of [110] films is higher than that of a [001] oriented La_2/3Sr_1/3MnO₃ film of similar thickness. The data have been analyzed in the light of a multidomain model and it is seen that this model correctly explains the observed behavior.     

Strain Effect on the Electrical and Magnetic Properties of La<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Ba<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Thin Films Grown by Metal-Organic Deposition

La_0.7Ba_0.3MnO₃ thin films have been epitaxially grown by metal-organic deposition on SrTiO₃ (STO) and LaAlO₃ (LAO) single-crystal substrates. Temperature dependence of magnetization M(T) and resistivity ρ(T) are used to characterize the Curie temperature (T _C) of the ferromagnetic transition. T _C is found to be extremely sensitive to the biaxial strain and film thickness. The T _C increases gradually by increasing the film thickness on both STO and LAO substrates, but does not reach the value of the bulk material. This behavior is interpreted in terms of lattice strain in the films and correlated to the microstructural properties.     

Effect of low level substitution of Sr–Ba on transport and magnetic behaviour of La<Subscript>0·67</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0·33</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

In this paper we report the investigation of transition metal oxide compound, La_0·67Ca_0·25Sr_0·04Ba_0·04MnO₃ (LCSBMO), along with La_0·67Ca_0·33MnO₃ (LCMO), synthesized by sol–gel route under identical conditions. The effect of simultaneous low level substitution of large size ions such as Sr²⁺ and Ba^2 + for Ca^2 + ions on the electronic transport and magnetic susceptibility properties are analysed and compared apart from microstructure and lattice parameters. The temperature dependent electrical transport of the polycrystalline pellets of LCSBMO and LCMO when obeying the well studied law, r = r₀ + r₂   T²rho = rho_{0} + rho_{2} ;T^{2} for T < T _MI , is observed to differ by more than 50% from the values of ρ ₀ and ρ ₂, with the former compound showing enhanced electrical conductivity than the latter. Similarly in fitting the adiabatic small polaron model for resistivity data of both the samples for T > T _MI , the polaron activation energy is found to differ by about 11%. In addition, the temperature dependent a.c. magnetic susceptibility study of the compounds shows a shift of about 6% in the paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition temperature (285 K for LCSBMO and 270 K for LCMO).     

Ca<Subscript>4</Subscript>La<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>5</Subscript>O<Subscript>17</Subscript>: a novel low loss dielectric ceramics in the CaO–La<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–TiO<Subscript>2 </Subscript>system

A novel low loss dielectric material Ca₄La₂Ti₅O₁₇ was prepared by solid state ceramic route. The structure and microstructure of the Ca₄La₂Ti₅O₁₇ ceramics was investigated using XRD, SEM and EDX techniques. XRD result showed cubic perovskite like structure for Ca₄La₂Ti₅O₁₇ ceramics. The ceramics were sintered in the temperature range of 1,450–1575 °C. The microwave dielectric properties of the material were investigated using a network analyzer in the frequency range of 3–6 GHz. The variation in microwave dielectric properties of the Ca₄La₂Ti₅O₁₇ ceramics with sintering temperature was correlated with bulk density of the material. Ca₄La₂Ti₅O₁₇ has ε_r of 73, Q_uxf of 16,000 at 3.3 GHz, and τ_f of 127 ppm/°C at the optimized sintering temperature of 1,550 °C/4h.     

Effect of Bivalent Cation Ca-Doping on Magnetic Properties in Multiferroic YMnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Manganites

Effect of bivalent cation Ca-doping on magnetic properties in multiferroic YMnO₃ manganites was systemically studied by DC and AC magnetic measurements. Series of samples were prepared by solid-state reaction method with composition Y_1−x Ca _x MnO₃ (x=i/8,i=2,3,…,7). The results show that each of the zero-field-cooling (ZFC) curves has a clear cusp and it shifts to higher temperature with increasing Ca-doping x. From the χ ⁻¹–T curve, the temperature of charge-ordering (CO) state T _CO is given at about 244.0 K and this indicates that the CO state is dominated by the cooperative Jahn–Teller effect in Y_1/2Ca_1/2MnO₃ with small A-site cation, for which there is a different behavior compared to the other manganites of larger 〈r _A 〉. When x=2/8 and 7/8 for Y_1−x Ca _x MnO₃, the magnetization curve shows strong irreversibility between ZFC and FC data. The variation of AC susceptibility presents a maximum cusp at the beginning temperature of the bifurcation between ZFC and ZF curve and shifts to higher temperature with increasing measurement frequency for AC susceptibility. These results can be characterized by spin-glass, indicating that much more itinerant e_g electrons are promoting the magnetic transition.     

Magnetic entropy change in the monovalent doping La<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Ba<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>M<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> (M = Na,Ag, K) manganites

Structural, magnetic, and magnetocaloric properties of monovalent doped La_0.7Ba_0.2M_0.1MnO₃ (M = Na, Ag, K) powder samples, synthesized using the solid state reaction at high temperature, have been experimentally investigated. The Rietveld refinement of the X-ray powder diffraction shows that all our synthesized samples are single phase and crystallize in the distorted rhombohedral system with space group. Lattice parameters and the unit cell volume increases with increasing average A-site ionic radius 〈r _A〉. The Mn–O–Mn bond angle decreases with increasing 〈r _A〉, ranging from 168.32° (M = Na) to 165.91° (M = K). All our studied samples undergo a paramagnetic–ferromagnetic transition. The Curie temperature T _C, shifts slightly to a lower temperature with increasing 〈r _A〉, which is consistent with large cationic disorder. Magnetic entropy change, , deduced from isothermal magnetization curves, reaches 3.04, 3.14, and 3.01 J/kg K for M = Na, Ag, and K, respectively, in a magnetic applied field change of 5T. Large relative cooling power (RCP) value of 337.9 J/kg is obtained for La_0.7Ba_0.2K_0.1MnO₃ sample, at a field change of 5T. This relatively large value associated to a Curie temperature of 311.5 K makes the present compound a promising candidate for the magnetic refrigerators around room temperature.     

Crystallization and microstructural evolution of MgO–Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–La<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> glass-ceramics

Crystallization and microstructure of glasses with the molar compositions 1MgO·1.2Al₂O₃·2.8SiO₂·1.2TiO₂·xLa₂O₃ (x = 0.1 and 0.4) were thermally treated at different temperatures in the range from 950 to 1250 °C and then analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, in combination with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and electron backscatter diffraction. It was found that the microstructure is first homogeneous with the precipitation of randomly distributed crystals and then indialite domains with embedded perrierite and rutile crystals are formed. For higher temperatures or prolonged times, more domains appear and expand into the bulk of the sample. Finally, the entire sample consists of the indialite domains and the boundaries that are enriched in rutile, perrierite, and magnesium aluminotitanate. Nevertheless, very distinct differences are observed between the samples with different La₂O₃ concentrations. For the sample with x = 0.4, the domains were detected at lower temperatures, while the quantity and size of the domains increase faster due to the promoted precipitation of indialite. For the sample with x = 0.1, in addition to the domain boundaries, secondary boundaries between the “regions” (assemblages of the domains) are observed in a larger length scale. The average size of the crystalline phases found between the “regions” is larger than that typically observed at the domain boundaries. The sizes of the crystals at the boundaries decrease with higher concentrations of La₂O₃, and the crystals (especially perrierite) within the domains become larger, resulting in a more homogeneous microstructure. This results in better dielectric properties, i.e., much higher quality factor for the sample with x = 0.4 in comparison to that with x = 0.1 after heat-treatment at 1150 or 1250 °C.     

Influence of Bi substitution on microwave dielectric properties of BaO–La<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Sm<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> ceramics

The influences of Bi substitution on microwave dielectric properties of Ba₄(La_0.5Sm_0.5)_9.33Ti₁₈O₅₄ solid solutions were investigated. Dielectric ceramics with general formula Ba₄(La_(0.5−z)Sm_0.5Bi _z )_9.33Ti₁₈O₅₄, z = 0.0–0.2 were prepared by conventional solid state route. The structural analysis of all the samples was carried out by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The dielectric properties were investigated as a function of Bi contents using open-ended coaxial probe method in the frequency range 0.3–3.0 GHz at room temperature. Dielectric constant varies from 83 to 88 and loss tangent from 2.1 × 10⁻³ to 5.5 × 10⁻³ at 3 GHz with temperature coefficient of resonant frequency changing from 106.7 to −8.4 ppm/oC as Bi contents increases from z = 0.00–0.20. It has been found that dielectric constant and temperature coefficient of resonant frequency improve whereas loss tangent is adversely affected with increase in Bi substitution.     

Wide range magnetoresistance and high temperature coefficient of resistance in La<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.3−x</Subscript>Ag<Subscript>x</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

We report observation of composition and process parameter dependant wide range magnetoresistance and high temperature coefficient of resistance in La_0.7Sr_0.3−xAg_xMnO₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) system. The polycrystalline samples synthesized through solid state reaction method exhibited rhombohedral structure with systematic change in lattice parameters. The samples with x ≤ 0.2 showed metallic behavior below room temperature. A broad metal-insulator transition is observed for x = 0.3, which becomes sharp for the samples sintered at high temperature. The broad transition resulted in magnetoresistance (MR) value around 35% over a wide temperature range whereas the sharp transition results in MR value as high as 85%. The temperature coefficient of resistance value of 11% is seen as a consequence of sharp transition. The magnetic transition was sharp for the samples sintered at high temperature.     

Phase equilibria in the La<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Ga<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-CoO system at 1100°C

The phase equilibria in the La₂O₃-Ga₂O₃-CoO system have been studied at 1100°C in air, using samples prepared by a standard ceramic processing technique from oxides and by a glycine-nitrate combustion process. The composition ranges and structures of solid solutions in this system have been determined by x-ray powder diffraction: LaGa_1?x Co _x O₃ (0 < x ≤ 0.05), LaCo_1?x Ga _x O₃ (0 < x ≤ 0.10), La₄Ga_2?x Co _x O₉ (0 < x ≤ 0.20), Co_1?x Ga_2+x O₄ (?0.20 ≤ x ≤ 0.05). The unit-cell parameters of the solid solutions vary little with composition, in accordance with the small difference in ionic radius between gallium and cobalt. The 1100°C section through the phase diagram of the La₂O₃-Ga₂O₃-CoO system in air is presented.     

Structure,electrical and magnetic properties of La<Subscript>0.67</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.33−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>K<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> polycrystalline ceramic

A systematic investigation of structure, electrical and magnetic properties of polycrystalline ceramics La_0.67Ca_0.33?x K _x MnO₃ (x?=?0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25) samples, prepared by sol–gel method had been undertaken. As K content increases the crystal structures were transformed from orthorhombic to rhombohedral structure identified by X-ray diffraction, and the effect of increasing K ion is to increment the Mn–O–Mn bond angle. The surface morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscope, which indicates that grain size decreasing with increasing of K⁺. Temperature dependence of resistivity (ρ ? T) was measured by standard four-probe method. The insulator–metal transition temperature (T _P ) shifted to higher temperature and the temperature coefficient of resistivity decreased sharply with the substitution K⁺ for Ca²⁺ ion. The temperature dependence of magnetization (M–T) shown that Curie temperature (T _C ) was increasing with the increase of K content, which can be explained by enhancement of double–exchange interaction. The data of resistivity on low-temperature (T?<?T _P ) had been fitted with the relation ρ(T) = ρ ₀?+?ρ ₂T²?+?ρ _4.5T^4.5; the high-temperature (T?>?T _P ) resistivity data were explained using small-polaron hopping and variable-range hopping models. Resistivity data in whole temperature range (100–320 K) could be fitted by percolation model. Polaron activation energy E _a was found to decrease with the content K⁺ increasing, which suggested that K doping increase bond angle Mn–O–Mn, thereby the effective band gap was decreased and the double exchange coupling was increased of, this is the reason for the decrease of resistivity.     

Investigation of charge transport mechanism in semiconducting La<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganite prepared by sol–gel method

Here in, we report the charge transport mechanism in semiconducting La_0.5Ca_0.5Mn_0.5Fe_0.5O₃ (LCMFO) polycrystalline material synthesized via sol–gel auto combustion route. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the orthorhombic phase of the prepared material. Temperature dependent resistivity and impedance spectroscopy measurements have been carried out to probe the dielectric and electrical conduction mechanism which revealed a change of Mott variable range to the small polaronic hopping conduction mechanism around 303 K. The complex impedance and modulus spectra undoubtedly showed the contribution of both grain and grain boundary effect on the conduction properties of LCMFO. An equivalent circuit [(R_gbQ_gb) (R_gQ_g)] model has been used to address the electrical parameters associated with the different phases (grains and grain boundaries) having different relaxation times. The values of resistances of two phases obtained after fitting the equivalent circuit in the nyquist plot have been analyzed which confirmed the change of conduction mechanism around 303 K. The resultant change in conduction mechanism is also supported by the conductivity plots.     

Structural and electrical properties of Bi<Subscript>1/2</Subscript>Na<Subscript>1/2</Subscript>TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–BaTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Sr<Subscript>3</Subscript>CuNb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript> lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

The structure, microstructure, field-induced strain, ferroelectric, piezoelectric and dielectric properties of (1 ? x) (Bi_0.5Na_0.5)_0.935Ba_0.065TiO₃–xSr₃CuNb₂O₉ (BNT-BT6.5–xSCN, with x = 0, 0.003, 0.006, 0.009) ceramics were investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns show that all samples are pure perovskite structure and Sr₃CuNb₂O₉ (SCN) effectively diffused into the 0.935Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃–0.065BaTiO₃ (BNT–BT6.5) solid solution which also reflected in the Raman spectra and the energy disperse spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. With the increases of SCN content, the coercive field (E _c  = 18.41 kV/cm) decreases greatly, whereas the remnant polarization (P _r  = 29.11 μC/cm²) increases a little at x = 0.003 which is showed in the polarization hysteresis (P–E) loops, the result indicate that the ferroelectric order would be disrupted. Around critical composition (x = 0.003) at a driving field of 60 kV/cm, a large unipolar strain of 0.29 % with a normalized strain (d ₃₃ ^*  = 483 pm/V) is obtained at room temperature. The results indicate that BNT-BT6.5-xSCN ceramics with excellent properties are promising to replace lead-based piezoelectric ceramics and can be used in practical applications.     

Crystal structure and lattice defects of La<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3 + δ</Subscript>

We report the synthesis of polycrystalline La _x MnO_{3 + δ} (x = 0.815, 0.90, 0.94, 0.97, 1.0) samples and their crystal structure at 300 K. All of the samples are single-phase and have an orthorhombically distorted (Pnma) perovskite structure. Also possible is that some of the samples have a rhombohedrally distorted structure. The unit-cell parameters of La_0.90MnO₃ differ most significantly from those of the x = 1.0 material. We have assessed the structural imperfection of the samples (cation vacancy concentration) and proposed overall chemical formulas of the manganites that take into account structural defects. Comparison of the X-ray and measured (hydrostatic weighing) densities of the samples demonstrates that their relative density increases with decreasing lanthanum content.     

The microwave absorbing properties of La<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>K<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> synthesized by sol–gel method

In this paper, La_0.8K_0.2MnO₃ powder was synthesized by sol–gel method. The phase structure, morphology of the composite have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope. Testing of the microwave absorption was carried out by using the network analyzer Agilent HP-8722ES at room temperature. The results show that the La_0.8K_0.2MnO₃ powder has excellent absorbing property. The maximum reflection loss is ?33.51 dB at about 12.22 GHz with a thickness of only 1.25 mm. Moreover, the bandwidth with the reflection loss above 10 dB reaches about 2.1 GHz.     

Synthesis and Magnetic Properties of Bi<Subscript>1.7</Subscript>Pb<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>10+<Emphasis Type="Italic">δ</Emphasis></Subscript> Added with Nano Y

Bi₁₇Pb_0.3Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O_10+δ superconductor samples were synthesized by the conventional solid-state reaction method. To study the effects of the addition of yttrium nanoparticles to the superconducting system, nano Y₂O₃ was introduced by small weight percentages (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 wt%) in the first step of the synthesis process. Phase identification and microstructural characterization of the samples were investigated using X-ray diffraction and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Energydispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis was utilized to confirm the presence of the desired elements in the chemical composition of the samples. Moreover, DC electrical resistivity as a function of the temperature, critical current density (J _c), AC magnetic susceptibility, and DC magnetization measurements were carried to evaluate the relative performance of samples. XRD analysis showed that both (Bi,Pb)-2223 and Bi-2212 phases coexist in the samples having an orthorhombic crystal structure. Both the onset critical temperatures (T _c) (onset) and zero electrical resistivity critical temperatures (T _c) (R = 0) of the samples were determined from the DC electrical resistivity measurements. An improvement of the superconducting transition temperature of 3.0 % was obtained with increasing Y₂O₃ nanoparticles to x = 1.0 wt%, while the critical current density is improved by 200 %. AC magnetic susceptibility measurement showed that the diamagnetic fraction and intergranular coupling of the x = 1.0 wt% sample are greater than those of the others. The variation of magnetization with temperature (M–T curve) of the samples was measured by cooling the sample in zero fields (ZFC) and an applied field of 10 Oe (FC). The results of AC magnetic susceptibility and DC magnetization measurements were in good agreement with DC electrical resistivity measurement.     

Investigation on the Current Transport Characteristics of SrTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7−x</Subscript> Heterostructure

By the combined use of the sol-gel and pulsed laser deposition methods, the SrTiO₃/YBa₂Cu₃O_7?x (STO/YBCO) heterostructure was prepared on a LaAlO₃ substrate. XRD results and φ scanning test showed that the prepared STO/YBCO heterostructure had good biaxial texture. Moreover, a Pt electrode was sputtered on the STO/YBCO heterostructure to investigate the current density-voltage (J ? V) characteristic curves of STO/YBCO in the 50–300 K temperature range. The results showed that the STO/YBCO heterostructure had good rectifying characteristics. With an applied positive bias voltage smaller than 3.7 V, the current density of the STO/YBCO heterostructure decreased with the decrease of temperature; for higher voltages, on the contrary, the current density increased with the decrease of temperature. When the YBCO experienced superconducting transition, the turn-on voltage (V _t) changed suddenly due to the sudden opening of the superconducting energy gap of YBCO. The V _t variation obtained from the experiment was essentially consistent with the known value of the YBCO superconducting energy gap.     

Magnetic Anomalies and Electronic Structure of Ce<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>Mg and Ce<Subscript>2</Subscript>Pd<Subscript>2</Subscript>Mg

The intermetallic compounds RE ₂Cu₂Mg and RE ₂Pd₂Mg (RE=La, Ce) were prepared and characterized by magnetic susceptibility and heat-capacity measurements. They crystallize with an ordered U₃Si₂ type structure (space group P4/mbm) and the cerium compounds contain stable trivalent cerium ions, which undergo antiferromagnetic ordering at ∼7.5 and ∼4 K, respectively. In high magnetic fields Ce₂Cu₂Mg exhibits spin reorientation with critical field strength of 40 kOe at 5 K. The data are compared to the non-magnetic isotypic compounds La₂ T ₂Mg (T=Cu, Ni, Pd) and to the already reported intermediate valent Ce₂Ni₂Mg.     

Tunable luminescence and energy transfer properties in Ca<Subscript>2−x</Subscript>NaMg<Subscript>2</Subscript>V<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript>:xEu<Superscript>3+</Superscript> phosphors

Novel broadband luminescence phosphors Ca_2?xNaMg₂V₃O₁₂:xEu³⁺ have been successfully prepared via the conventional high-temperature solid-state reaction. The effects of concentrations of doped Eu³⁺ and introducing Li⁺, K⁺ on the luminescent properties of phosphor were studied. X-ray diffraction, GSAS structural refinement and photoluminescence spectra were used to characterize the samples. The refinement data ensured where the doped Eu³⁺ ions occupied the lattice site in the host. Under 355 nm excitation, the emission peak of Ca₂NaMg₂V₃O₁₂:Eu³⁺ phosphors are located at 610 nm (red) ascribed to the electric dipole transition of Eu³⁺ from ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂. In the range of 400–575 nm, Ca₂NaMg₂V₃O₁₂:Eu³⁺ phosphors have broad emission bands attributed to charge transfer of \({\text{VO}}_4^{3 - }\) group. Energy transfer mechanism, energy transfer efficiency and critical distance (R_c) of \({\text{VO}}_4^{3 - }\) → Eu³⁺ would be analyzed. The emitting color of Ca₂NaMg₂V₃O₁₂:Eu³⁺ could be tunable from blue-green to near white light.