Size induced variations in structural and magnetic properties of double exchange La0.8Sr0.2MnO3-δ nano-ferromagnet

A detailed study on the influence of particle size varied from 8 nm to 53 nm on the structural and magnetic properties of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3-delta has been done. The unit cell volume increases and the microstrain in the compound shows peak formation as the particle size decreases. Nano particles of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3-delta exhibit superparamagnetism whose blocking temperature has a nonlinear and logarithmic decreasing tendency as function of particle size and applied magnetic field, respectively. Evidence of formation of a magnetically dead layer at the surface has been found and the ratio of the thickness of the dead layer to the particle size increases exponentially with particle size. The coercivity of the nanoparicles increases manifold as particle size varies from 53 nm to 21 nm. In the single domain region the coercivity exhibits a d(-1.125) behavior. The temperature dependence of the saturation magnetization shows strong collective excitation due to the spin wave that varies as T-alpha with alpha>alpha(bulk) of 3/2. Thus the spin wave does not follow the Bloch law in the case of nano particles of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3-delta. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.