Room temperature magnetoresistance in Ln2/3A1/3MnO3 manganites

The investigation of the manganites La2/3−xPrxSr1/3MnO3, La2/3Sr1/3−xCaxMnO3 and La2/3+xCa1/3−2xAgxMnO3, which all exhibit Mn3+:Mn4+=2, shows that it is possible to reach high magnetoresistance at room temperature, up to 21% under 1.2 T. These materials are compared to La5/6Ag1/6MnO3 which corresponds to the same Mn3+:Mn4+ ratio and exhibits a magnetoresistance of 25% in this field. An interesting feature deals with the value of the insulator–metal transition temperature TIM, often higher than TC, especially for Ag-based compounds. It is suggested that the latter results either from a better oxygenation of the surface of the grains or from a migration of silver toward the surface.