Physical properties of microwave and solid state synthesized La0.7Na0.3MnO3

We report the structural, magnetic, electrical and broadband microwave absorption in La0.7Na0.3MnO3 sample synthesized by microwave (MW) irradiation (Na0.3LMO_MW) and compare them to the sample synthesized by solid-state (SS) reaction method (Na0.3LMO_SS). Single phase Na0.3LMO_MW was synthesized at 800 degrees C in 30 min, whereas, Na0.3LMO_SS sample was obtained by sintering at 1200 degrees C for 48 h. Although both these samples show ferromagnetic transition at T-C-324.8 K, the MW-synthesized sample shows distinct physical properties: broad ferromagnetic transition, smaller saturation magnetization, a large difference between the magnetic ordering and metal-insulator transition temperatures, a large high-field magnetoresistance, a table top-like magnetocaloric effect, and a large low-field microwave absorption compared to the solid state synthesized sample. These differences are suggested to arise from magnetic heterogeneity induced by smaller grain size and surface spin disorder in the MW synthesized La0.7Na0.3MnO3.