Transport, Magnetic, and Thermal Properties of La0.7Ca0.24Sr0.06MnO3 Single Crystal

Abstract

We report the transport, magnetic, and thermal properties of La0.7Ca0.24Sr0.06MnO3 single crystal. It was prepared using floating zone technique used under oxygen pressure of 1 bar with a typical growth rate of 1 mm/hr. The resistivity data shows the metal to insulator transition (M-I) occuring at TMI=290 K along the c-axis and at TMI=280 K along the ab-plane. It is observed that the TMI is higher along the c-axis as compared to that in the ab-plane, thus indicating that more favorable hoping of electrons is along the c-axis. From bolometric application point of view, the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) is found to be ~28% K−1. The ac-susceptibility measurement shows that this material exhibits ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition temperature (TC) 277 K. Sharp peak around this temperature in heat capacity data indicates the onset of long-range ordering. The entropy change associated with this transition is found to be 2.3 J/mol K.