Effect of strontium substitution on the physical properties of Nd_0.5Ca_0.5−xSr_xMnO₃(0.0≤x≤0.5) manganites

Abstract

The structural and magnetic properties of Nd0.5Ca0.5−xSrxMnO3 (0.0≤x≤0.5) were investigated experimentally. All our samples were synthesized using the standard ceramic elaborating method at high temperatures. X-ray diffraction was systematically carried out on Nd0.5Ca0.5−xSrxMnO3 polycrystalline compounds. All our samples crystallized in the orthorhombic system. The unit cell volume increased with increasing strontium amount. The substitution of Ca by Sr destroyed the charge order state observed in the parent compound and induced a ferromagnetic phase at low temperatures. The Curie temperature Tc increased from 150 K for x = 0.1 to 260 K for x = 0.5.