Colossal magnetoresistance of Nd-doped LaCaMnO3 polycrystalline ceramics

Abstract

The cation doped polycrystalline compound La0.5Nd0.15Ca0.35MnO3 has been synthesized by a conventional solid state reaction method. The Rietveld analysis of the powder XRD of the composites reveals an orthorhombic structure with Pbnm space group symmetry. The cell parameters are a = 5.4505 ?, b = 5.4457 ? and c = 7.6876?. The AC magnetization studies show a semiconducting paramagnetic to metallic ferromagnetic transition at a temperature below the Curie temperature TC which is found to be 206.3K. It is also observed that metal to semiconductor transition temperature TMS is very close to TC. The sample also possesses high magnetoresistance, which is revealed in MR studies.