Effect of thermal-annealing on the magnetoresistance of manganite-based junctions

Thermal-annealing has been widely used in modulating the oxygen content of manganites. In this work, we have studied the effect of annealing on the transport properties and magnetoresistance of junctions composed of a La0.9Ca0.1MnO3＋6 film and a Nb-doped SrTiO3 substrate. We have demonstrated that the magnetoresistance of junctions is strongly dependent on the annealing conditions： Prom the junction annealed-in-air to the junction annealedin-vacuum, the magnetoresistance near 0-V bias can vary from ～-60% to N～0. A possible mechanism accounting for this phenomenon is discussed.

Spontaneous magnetization and resistivity jumps in bilayered manganite (La_(0.8)Eu_(0.2))_(4/3)Sr_(5/3)Mn_2O_7 single crystals

Owing to the inhomogeneous state resulting from the doping of a small number of Eu ions into Laa/3Sr5/3Mn2O7, from the resulting single crystal （La0.8Eu0.2）a/3Sr5/3Mn2O7 we have observed the magnetization jump, the resistivity jump, as well as the relaxation phenomena. For （Lao.sEuo.2）a/3Sr5/3Mn2O7, it has a very delicate ground state due to the interplays among spin, charge, orbital, lattice degrees of freedom. Consequently, the magnetization state is sensitive to temperature, magnetic field, as well as time. Meanwhile, the evolution of the magnetization with time shows a spontaneous jump when both the temperature and the magnetic field are constant. Similar step-like behaviours are also observed in resistivity. All these results suggest that Eu doping can greatly modulate the physical properties of Laa/3Sr5/3Mn2O7 and cause such interesting behaviours.

Roles of Te and Mn in the two phases of manganite with nominal composition La_(0.6)Sr_(0.1)Te_xMnO_3

Powder samples with nominal composition La0.6Sr0.1TexMnO3 （x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20） were prepared using the sol-gel method with thermal treatment up to 1473 K. On the basis of powder X-ray diffraction （XRD）, thermogravimetric and magnetic measurements, it was found that almost all of the Te and a few of the Mn ions were lost from the samples when they were calcined at 1473 K. The reason for the Te loss and a quantitative phase analysis for the samples calcined at 1473 K are discussed in detail.

Colossal magnetoresistance in manganites and related prototype devices

We review colossal magnetoresistance in single phase manganites, as related to the field sensitive spin-charge interactions and phase separation; the rectifying property and negative/positive magnetoresistance in manganite/Nb：SrTio3 p-n junctions in relation to the special interface electronic structure; magnetoelectric coupling in manganite/ferroelectric structures that takes advantage of strain, carrier density, and magnetic field sensitivity; tunneling magnetoresistance in tunnel junctions with dielectric, ferroelectric, and organic semiconductor spacers using the fully spin polarized nature of manganites; and the effect of particle size on magnetic properties in manganite nanoparticles.

Electron spin resonance study of the Ba-doping manganite Nd_(0.5)Sr_(0.5)MnO_3

We have performed magnetization measurements and electron spin resonance （ESR） on polycrystalline manganites of Nd0.5Sr0.5-xBaxMnO3 （x = 0.1）. Phase separation and phase transitions are observed from the susceptibility and the ESR spectra data. Between 260 K （～ Tc） and 185 K （～ TN）, the system coexists of the paramagnetic phase and the ferromagnetic （FM） phase. Between 185 K and 140 K, the system coexists of the FM phase and the antiferromagnetic （AFM） phase. These results indicate that the system has a very complex magnetic state due to the origin of the instability stemming from manganite Nd0.5Sr0.4Ba0.1MnO3 by partially substituting the larger Ba^2＋ ions for the smaller Sr^2＋ ions.

Transport and Magnetic Properties of Perovskite-Type Manganite (La_(0.8-x)Ce_x Sr_ (0.2))_ (0.97)MnO_3

Phase structures, the transport ana magnetic properties of the Perovskite-type manganite （La0.8-x CexSr0.2）0.97 MnO3（x = 0 - 0. 26） prepared by La2O3 containing CeO2 with different contents were studied. Experiments show that the compounds consist of a magnetic perovskite phase and non-magnetic CeO2 and Mn3O4. The resistivity and magnetoresistance ratio （MR） of the samples vary with changing x. Their room-temperature MR reaches -3% - - 14% at the magnetic field of 1 T. For x =0; x =0.037 and x = 0.26 samples, the conductance keeps unchanged basically in a relatively wide temperature range above 600 K, and the result shows that it is feasible for producing SOFC cathode materials with these samples.

Emergent phenomena in manganites under spatial confinement

It is becoming increasingly clear that the exotic properties displayed by correlated electronic materials such as high- Tc superconductivity in cuprates, colossal magnetoresistance （CMR） in manganites, and heavy-fermion compounds are intimately related to the coexistence of competing nearly degenerate states which couple simultaneously active degrees of freedom---charge, lattice, orbital, and spin states. The striking phenomena associated with these materials are due in a large part to spatial electronic inhomogeneities, or electronic phase separation （EPS）. In many of these hard materials, the functionality is a result of the soft electronic component that leads to self-organization. In this paper, we review our recent work on a novel spatial confinement technique that has led to some fascinating new discoveries about the role of EPS in manganites. Using lithographic techniques to confine manganite thin films to length scales of the EPS domains that reside within them, it is possible to simultaneously probe EPS domains with different electronic states. This method allows for a much more complete view of the phases residing in a material and gives vital information on phase formation, movement, and fluctuation. Pushing this trend to its limit, we propose to control the formation process of the EPS using external local fields, which include magnetic exchange field, strain field, and electric field. We term the ability to pattern EPS ＂electronic nanofabrication.＂ This method allows us to control the global physical properties of the system at a very fundamental level, and greatly enhances the potential for realizing true oxide electronics.

Some Important Features of Manganites

Manganites are very complex systems because of interplay among charge, spin, orbital and lattice degrees of freedom. To come closer to the understanding of its nature, we discuss its three important features: 1) correlation between magnetization and electrical resistivity in the same temperature range;2) detection of chemical constitution and the arrangement of Mn3+ and Mn4+ ions at different hole concentrations;and 3) how electrical current flows through double exchange in manganites. The first feature will be discussed for three-dimensional manganies. The features 2 and 3 are inscrutable in three-dimensional manganites. So they will be discussed for one-dimensional manganites and then generalized. One-dimensional solid has been discussed because it may give a see-through picture of various aspects of manganites. All the discussions will be done through a representative example of La1-xCaxMnO3, because it is the intermediate bandwidth manganite;has been most widely investigated and has the highest magnetoresistance. If two things: 1) magnetization and resistivity as a function of temperature at various magnetic fields;and 2) phase diagrams of other manganites are known, their properties can be understood by the discussion of the three features mentioned above.

Synthesis of Ordered Ultra-long Manganite Nanowires via Electrospinning Method

We develop a new electrospinning method to prepare ultra-long ordered La1-xSrxMnO3 （LSMO） nanowires. The length is up to several centimeters and is only limited by the size of the collector. The well-ordered straight-line structure ensures the transport measurement, which is impossible to be carried out for the random nanowires fabricated by the traditional electrospinning method. Magnetic and transport measurements indicate that the physical properties of the LSMO nanowires depend sensitively on the doping concentration. At the optimum doping, the LSMO wires are ferromagnetic at room temperature with a metal-insulator transition temperature close to room temperature. Magnetic force microscopy studies are also performed to provide a microscopic view of these ultra-long nanowires.

Structural and Magnetic Properties in Nd_(0.7)Sr_(0.3)MnO_3 Manganite

The temperature evolution of the crystal structure for Nd_(0.5)Sr_(0.5)MnO_3 has been investigated by powder XRD between 125 Kand 725K.The structure can be described with a monoclinic symmetry(space group P21/m)in the temperature range of 125—175 K,while with the increase in temperature between 175 Kand 575 Kthe structure involves a higher orthorhombic symmetry(space group Imma).The rhombohedral structure with space group R-3cis observed at high temperature region of 575—725K.The increase in the magnetization at low temperatures can be ascribed to the field-induced short-range magnetic order of the Nd3+ions.The dc and ac susceptibility data show some anomalies around the FM-PM transition region which can be attributed to the glass behavior and magnetic relaxation.

Structural and magnetic properties of La_(0.7)Sr_(0.1)Ag_xMnO_(3-δ) perovskite manganites

Ag-doped manganite powder samples, La0.7Sr0.1AgxMnO3 6 （x = 0.00, 0.025, 0.05, 0.075, and 0.10） were synthesized using the sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that the samples had two phases with the R-3c perovskite being the dominant phase and Mn3O4 being the second phase. X-ray energy dispersive spectra indicated that the ratio of Ag to La was very close to that of the nominal composition in the samples. The specific saturation magnetizations at 300 K increased from 32.0 A.mZ/kg when x = 0.00 to 46.8 A-mZ/kg when x = 0.10. The Curie temperature, TC, of the samples increased from 310 K when x = 0.00 to 328 K when x = 0.10. Because the atomic concentration ratios of La, Sr, and Mn in the five samples were all the same and only the Ag concentration changed, the variations of the specific saturation magnetizations at 300 K and the Curie temperatures suggested that the Ag cations have been doped into the A sites of the perovskite phase in the samples.

Effect of film thickness on interfacial barrier of manganite-based heterojunctions

Interracial barrier is a key factor that determines the performances of heterojunctions. In this work, we study the effect of manganite film thickness on the effective interracial barrier for La0.67Sr0.33MnO3/Nb：SrTiO3 junctions, The barrier is extracted from the forward current-voltage characteristics. Our results demonstrate that the barrier decreases gradually from -0.85 eV to -0.60 eV when the film thickness decreases from 150 nm to 2 nm. The overall value of the barrier is only about 50% of the corresponding one determined from the photovoltaic effect.

Direct measurement of the interfacial barrier height of the manganite p–n heterojunction

A manganite p-n heterojunction composed of Lao.67Sro.33MnO3 film and 0.05 wt% Nb-doped SrTiO3 substrate is fabricated. Rectifying behavior of the junction well described by the Shockley equation is observed, and the transport properties of the interface are experimentally studied. A satisfactorily logarithmic linear dependence of resistance on temperature is observed in a temperature range of 150 K-380 K, and the linear relation between bias and activation energies deduced from the R - lIT curves is observed. According to activation energy, the interfacial barrier of the heterojunction is obtained, which is 0.91 eV.

Nano LaAlO_3 buffer layer-assisted tunneling current in manganite p–n heterojunction

An oxide p-n heterojunction composed of a 150-nm La0.67Ca0.33 MnO3（LCMO） film, 0.05 wt% Nb doped SrTiO3 substrate（STON）, and sandwiched 5-nm LaAlO3（LAO） thin film is fabricated with the pulsed laser deposition technique and the interfacial transport properties are experimentally studied. The rectifying behavior of the junction is in agreement with Newman＇s equation, indicating that tunneling is the dominant process for the carriers to pass through the interface while thermal emission is the dominant transport model of an LCMO/STON heterojunction with no LAO buffer layer.

Electrical and Magnetic Properties of Bilayer Manganites La_(1.4)Sr_(1.6)Mn_(1.96)TE_(0.04)O_7 (TE=Mn, Fe, Ti, Nb)

The electrical and magnetic properties of bilayer manganites La1.4Sr1.6Mn1.96TE0.04O7（TE = Mn, Fe, Ti, Nb） were investigated. Doping caused obvious changes in electrical and magnetic behaviors such as decrease of insulator-metal transition and magnetic transition temperatures, increase of peak resistivity, and different magnetoresistance effect. These changes had a significant degree of correlation with the valence of doped ions. From Fe, Ti to Nb doping, the effect was doubly stronger. The results could be well understood by considering the different destructions on double-exchange interaction and different influences on lattice distortion caused by Fe, Ti and Nb doping. The temperature dependence of magnetization measured at high field showed that the influence of doping was greatest near three-dimensional magnetic transition temperature of parent phase.

Magnetic Properties of Perovskite Manganite La_ (0.3)Ca_ (0.7)Mn_ (0.96)W_ (0.04)O_3 in Charge Ordering Phase

The sample La_ 0.3Ca_ 0.7Mn_ 0.96W_ 0.04O_3 was prepared by the solid-state method. Magnetic properties of La_ 0.3Ca_ 0.7Mn_ 0.96W_ 0.04O_3 was studied through the measurement of M-T curve, M-H curves and ESR curves of the sample. The results show that: charge ordering (CO) phase forms at 265 K; the system exhibits paramagnetism when T>265 K; it exhibits long-range anti-ferromagnetism (there is a little FM component in AFM background) and the coexistence of a little FM phase and AFM/CO phase forms when T<225 K; the system transforms from paramagnetism to antiferromagnetism in charge-ordering state with temperature decreasing from 265 to 225 K. The width of ESR spectrum line of the sample La_ 0.3Ca_ 0.7Mn_ 0.96W_ 0.04O_3 was measured, and the value of the line width of paramagnetic resonance ΔH_ PP increases with temperature decreasing, which indicates that ferromagnetic connection of the sample strengthens with temperature decreasing.

Nanoscale control of low-dimensional spin structures in manganites

Due to the upcoming demands of next-generation electronic/magnetoelectronic devices with low-energy consumption,emerging correlated materials（such as superconductors,topological insulators and manganites） are one of the highly promising candidates for the applications.For the past decades,manganites have attracted great interest due to the colossal magnetoresistance effect,charge-spin-orbital ordering,and electronic phase separation.However,the incapable of deterministic control of those emerging low-dimensional spin structures at ambient condition restrict their possible applications.Therefore,the understanding and control of the dynamic behaviors of spin order parameters at nanoscale in manganites under external stimuli with low energy consumption,especially at room temperature is highly desired.In this review,we collected recent major progresses of nanoscale control of spin structures in manganites at low dimension,especially focusing on the control of their phase boundaries,domain walls as well as the topological spin structures（e.g.,skyrmions）.In addition,capacitor-based prototype spintronic devices are proposed by taking advantage of the above control methods in manganites.This capacitor-based structure may provide a new platform for the design of future spintronic devices with low-energy consumption.

Transport-magnetism Correlation and Colossal Magnetoresistance in Mixed-valent Manganites

A phenomenological model based on phase separation between ferromagnetic metallic and paramagnetic insulating domains was applied to analyze the electrical transport and colossal magnetoresistance for mixed-valent manganites of RE_(2/3)AE_(1/3)MnO_3. The results show that the model can yield results in agreement with experimental observations in these manganites. The present approach provides a simple picture to visualize the reason that the temperature dependence of resistance (with and without applied magnetic fields) in these compounds has the peculiar shape, without invoking any complicated concept.

High Temperature LFMR in Yttrium Doped Perovskite Manganites

Porous ceramic samples of Y doped perovskite manganites were prepared. In these samples, the transition from high temperature paramagnetic insulator to low temperature ferromagnetic metal as well as the low field magnetoresistance (LFMR) effect at the low temperature is similar to that in dense samples. Opposite to that in dense samples, LFMR effect in porous sample is observed at the high temperature close to the peak of MR T curves. The results suggest that the high temperature LFMR effect and the applicable colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) materials could be obtained by controlling the microstructures of this class of perovskite manganites.

Structural and Electrical Properties of Layered Pervoskite Manganites Nd_(2-2x)Sr_(1+2x)Mn_2O_7 (x=0.25, 0.3, 0.4)

Tetragonally layered perovskite manganites of Nd2-2xSr1＋2xMn2O7（x =0.25, 0.3, 0.4） were fabricated by using solid-state reaction technique. Structural characterization of the compounds was investigated by X-ray diffraction （XRD） and FT-IR absorption spectra. The XRD patterns revealed that all the samples were single phase. X-ray photoemission spectroscopy （XPS） was used to investigate their electronic structures. It was found that manganese was in mixed states of Mn^3＋ and Mn^4＋ whereas lattice oxygen and chemical absorbed oxygen were existed in all the samples. The high temperature electrical properties of Nd2-2xSr1＋2xMn2O7 （x = 0.3, 0.4） were measured by standard four-probe technique. The results showed that both compounds had semi-conductivity behavior in the temperature range of 300 - 1073 K, and the electrical conduction was dominated by thermally activated behavior above 500 K.