Switching magnetoresistance in vertically interfaced Pr0.5Ca0.5MnO3 grown on ZnO nanowires

TL;DR

This study investigates the growth and magneto-transport properties of Pr0.5Ca0.5MnO3 on ZnO nanowires, revealing tunable charge-ordering stability and an inverted magnetoresistance sign at low temperatures, with implications for functional material design.

Contribution

It demonstrates a novel nanostructure engineering approach to control magnetoresistance behavior in transition metal oxides.

Findings

Charge-ordering stability can be tuned.

Magnetoresistance sign is inverted at low temperatures.

Growth on nanowires can be extended to other oxides.

Abstract

The synthesis, morphology and magneto-transport properties of nanostructure-engineered charge-ordered Pr0.5Ca0.5MnO3 grown on ZnO nanowires are reported. The stability of the charge-ordering can be tuned, but more interestingly the sign of the magnetoresistance is inverted at low temperatures. Coexistence of ferromagnetic clusters on the surface and antiferromagnetic phase in the core of the grains were considered in order to understand these features. This work suggests that such a process of growing on nanowires network can be readily extended to other transition metal oxides and open doors towards tailoring their functionalities.