Structure and Magnetic Properties of La0.66Sr0.33MnO3 Thin Films Derived Using Sol-Gel Technique

Abstract

In this paper the results of a study of the structural and magnetic properties of La0.66Sr0.33MnO3 (LSMO) polycrystalline films grown on glass substrate using Sol-Gel technique are presented. The samples were structurally characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. The average grain size range of 30 nm has been obtained from XRD investigations of granular LSMO samples. Zero Field Cooling (ZFC) and Field Cooling (FC) magnetization measurements have been performed and magnetic hysteresis loops of LSMO were recorded at various temperatures. The temperature dependences of the magnetization of LSMO films recorded in ZFC and FC regimes exhibited considerable difference between the curves. The blocking and the ferromagnetic phase transition temperatures of about 262 K and 300 K, respectively, were observed from magnetization measurements.