Direct observation of electron doping in La0.7Ce0.3MnO3 using x-ray absorption spectroscopy -: art. no. 092404

We report an x-ray absorption spectroscopic (XAS) study on thin films of La0.7Ce0.3MnO3. The measurements clearly show that the cerium is in the Ce(IV) valence state, and that the manganese is present in a mixture of Mn2+ and Mn3+ valence states. These data demonstrate that La0.7Ce0.3MnO3 is an electron-doped colossal magnetoresistive manganite, a finding that may open up opportunities for device applications as well as for further research on the colossal magnetoresistance phenomenon in these materials.