Abstract
Transport and magnetic properties of compacted LaMnO3+δ manganite nanoparticles of an average size of 18 nm have been investigated in the temperature range 5-300 K. The nanoparticles exhibit a paramagnetic-to- ferromagnetic (FM) transition at the Curie temperature TC ∼ 246 K. However, the spontaneous magnetization disappears at a higher temperature of about 270 K. It was found that at low temperatures the FM core occupies about 50% of the particle volume. The temperature dependence of the resistivity shows a metal-insulator transition and a low-temperature upturn below the resistivity minimum at T ∼ 50 K. The transport at low temperatures is controlled by the charging energy and spin-dependent tunnelling through grain boundaries. It has been found that the charging energy decreases monotonically with increasing magnetic field. The low temperature I-V characteristics are well described by an indirect tunnelling model while at higher temperatures both direct and resonant tunnelling dominates. The experimental features are discussed in the framework of a granular ferromagnet model.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 185001 |
Journal | Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics |
Volume | 41 |
Issue number | 18 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 21 Sept 2008 |