Study of structural, transport and magneto-resistive properties of La0.7Ca0.3-xCexMnO3 (0≤x≤0.2)

We have synthesized a series of La-0.7(Ca0.3-xCex)MnO3 (0 <= x <= 0.2) by standard solid-state reaction method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement was carried out for structural studies and Rietveld refinement was done for structural analysis. The transport properties were studied using four probe technique. The temperature dependence of the resistivity was measured in the temperature range of 20 K to room temperature. It is found that all samples show a systematic variation in metal to insulator transition at transition temperature (T-P) and resistivity (rho) with the relative concentration of hole and electron doping in the system. The samples showed varying amounts of colossal magnetoresistance depending upon temperature and applied magnetic field. The magnetoresistance values as high as 72% were observed in x = 0 sample. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.