The effects of Cu doping on the magnetoresistive behavior of perovskites La0.7Ca0.3MnO3

The electronic and magnetic properties of Cu-doped perovskite La0.7Ca0.3Mn1−xCuxO3 obtained by doping Cu on its Mn sites have been studied. The perovskite structure was found to remain intact up to the highest doping level of x=0.20. At low Cu concentration (x=0.05) the temperature-dependence of resistivity of the material exhibited up to two peaks corresponding to the magnetic transitions from the PM to the FM phase, and from the FM to the AFM phase. In general, the doping level was found to suppress the ferromagnetic ordering of the material, increase its resistivity, and produce large values of magnetoresistance near the resistivity peak. These results were explained as due to the formation of the antiferromagnetic phase.