Investigation on the maximum content of vacancy at the B sites in La0.75Sr0.25Mn1-xO3 perovskite manganites

The effects of the vacancy at the B sites on the structural and magnetic properties of perovskite manganites with a nominal composition La0.75Sr0.25Mn1-xO3 (0.0 <= x <= 0.13), prepared by the sol-gel method, were investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that there is a ABO(3) perovskite structure single phase in the samples with x <= 0.08; however, there are second and third phases containing La, except ABO(3) perovskite phase, in the samples with x >= 0.10. Magnetic measurement indicates that the sample with x = 0.08 has the lowest Curie temperature. By a quantitative phase analysis, we believe that there is a maximum value of vacancy content at the B sites in ABO(3) perovskite manganites. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4720413]