Investigation of Nano-Sized Al2O3 on Pr-Sr-Mn-O Composites: Structural, Microstructural and Magnetic Properties

• Published in: Solid state phenomena Vol. 307; pp. 3 - 8
• Main Authors: Pah, Lim Kean, Chen, Soo Kien, Halim, Shaari Abdul, Kechik, Mohd Mustafa Awang, Lau, Lik Nguong, Badron, Nurul Suhada
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Zurich Trans Tech Publications Ltd 01.07.2020
• Subjects: Aluminum oxide; Atomic force microscopes; Atomic force microscopy; Composite materials; Composition; Crystal structure; Diffraction patterns; Ferromagnetism; Hysteresis loops; Magnetic properties; Magnetoresistance; Magnetoresistivity; Manganites; Perovskites; Physical properties; Surface roughness; PSMO; Rietveld Refinement; Solid-State Reaction; Manganite Composite
• ISSN: 1012-0394; 1662-9779; 1662-9779
• DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.307.3

Perovskite manganites have always been the research interest attributed to its intriguing colossal magnetoresistive (CMR) properties. Incorporation of an insulating secondary phase into the manganite composites has proven as an effective measure to enhance the low field magnetoresistance (LFMR). This paper reports the structural, microstructural and magnetic properties of (1-x) Pr0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (PSMO): x Al2O3 composites synthesized by the solid-state reaction method. Different compositions of nano-sized Al2O3 (x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20) were appended into the samples to investigate its effect on the physical properties. X-ray diffraction patterns show all samples exhibit polycrystalline PSMO as the major phase and strong orientation along (121) direction throughout the series. The crystal structural parameter is presented by Rietveld refinement. Nano-sized of Al2O3 has distorted the pure PSMO as changes have been observed in bond length and bond angle observed. Surface roughness and particle size show the increment along with increasing Al2O3 composition from the atomic force microscope (AFM) analysis. All samples possess the narrow hysteresis loop with weak ferromagnetic nature. The PSMO: Al2O3 presented in this study is a promising manganite composite which can be utilized in the magnetic sensor applications.