Abstract
Magnetic properties of electron-doped La0.2 Ca0.8 MnO3 manganite nanoparticles with average particle size ranging from 15 to 37 nm, prepared by the glycine-nitrate method, have been investigated in temperature range 5-300 K and in magnetic fields up to 90 kOe. A monotonous enhancement of weak ferromagnetism linked to the reduction in the particle size was observed for all nanoparticles. Magnetic hysteresis loops also indicate size-dependent exchange bias effect displayed by horizontal and vertical shifts in field-cooled processes. The magnetization data reveal two ferromagnetic components: first one appears at T∼200K and may be attributed to surface magnetization and second one appears as a result of spin canting of antiferromagnetic core or is developed at some interfaces inside nanoparticles. Time evolution of magnetization recorded in magnetic fields after the field cooling to low temperatures exhibits a very noisy behavior that may be caused by formation of collective state of nanoparticles with no clear tendency to reach equilibrium state. Magnetic properties of the nanoparticle samples are compared with those of the bulk La0.2 Ca0.8 MnO3.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 094428 |
Journal | Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics |
Volume | 81 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 25 Mar 2010 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics