Effect of tolerance factor and local distortion on magnetic properties of the perovskite manganites

Abstract

The substitutions of rare earths for La on the magnetic properties of the perovskites La0.7−xRxA0.3MnO3 (0<x<0.7), R=Pr or Gd and A=Ca, Sr, or Ba have shown that small substitution of Pr slightly increases the coercive field Hc and magnetization M, and strongly improves the magnetoresistance (MR) while lowering Tc. On the other hand, the substitution of Gd lowers Hc, M and Tc, however, increases MR of the system La0.7−xGdxSr0.3MnO3 at temperature <Tc. Large differences in the A-site ionic radii rA of the AMnO3 perovskites proved detrimental. The optimal composition has been discussed for the half-metallic ferromagnet of a spin-switch device based on the manganese oxides.