The Effect of Electron Doping on the Physical Properties of La_{1 − x}Ce_xMnO₃ Manganites

Abstract

The morphology, structural and magnetic properties of La _{1 − x} Ce _x MnO ₃ manganites oxides, prepared by sol-gel method, have been investigated to study the effect of the substitution of La by Ce. The images of the scan electron microscopy (SEM) show that our samples are constituted of homogenous particles, ranging in size from (1.75–3.75 μ m). The Rietveld refinements of the X-ray diffraction reveal the presence of both orthorhombic structure with the Pnma space group and an unreacted CeO ₂ phase. We have found that when increasing the x doping concentration of Ce the volume decreases. Magnetic measurements versus temperature in an applied magnetic field of 0.1T show that all samples exhibit a paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition and the curie temperature T _C decreases.

Keywords:

• Manganites
• electron-doped
• double exchange
• SEM