The magnetoresistive behavior of Cr-doped manganites Pr0.44Sr0.56MnO3

TL;DR

This study investigates how Cr doping affects the structural, magnetic, and electrical properties of Pr0.44Sr0.56MnO3, revealing phase separation and significant magnetoresistance, with implications for understanding complex magnetic behaviors in manganites.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the effects of Cr doping on phase coexistence and magnetoresistance in Pr0.44Sr0.56MnO3, highlighting nanoscopic phase separation phenomena.

Findings

Cr doping induces non-uniform magnetic states with coexisting FM and AFM regions.

Samples exhibit non-metallic resistivity and thermopower, indicating nanoscopic phase separation.

Large magnetoresistance observed across a broad temperature range for 4-6% Cr doping.

Abstract

A complex structural, magnetic and electric transport investigation shows that the Cr doping on Mn sites in the A-type antiferromagnet Pr0.44Sr0.56MnO3 provokes a non-uniform magnetic state with coexisting FM and AFM regions. Irrespective of the ratio of magnetic phases, the samples exhibit a non-metallic behavior of resistivity and thermopower, pointing to the nanoscopic nature of the phase separation. A particularly large magnetoresistance encountered in a broad range of temperatures for samples with Cr doping of 4 - 6 % supports such idea.