Superparamagnetic behavior of La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 nanoparticles prepared via sol-gel method

Magnetic nanoparticles of La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 (LSMO) manganite were prepared by sol-gel method. Phase formation and crystal structure of the synthesized powder were examined by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) using the Rietveld analysis. The mean particle size was determined by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Infrared transmission spectroscopy revealed that stretching and bending modes are influenced by calcinations temperature. The temperature dependence of the ac magnetic susceptibility was measured at different frequencies and ac magnetic fields in the selected ranges of 40-1000 Hz and 80-800 A/m, respectively. The temperature dependence of ac susceptibility shows a characteristic maxima corresponding to the blocking temperature near room temperature. The frequency dependence of the blocking temperature is well described by the Vogel-Fulcher law. By fitting the experimental data with this law, the relaxation time tau(0) = 1.7 x 10(-12)s, characteristic temperature T-0 = 262 +/- 3 K, anisotropy energy E-a/k = 684 +/- 15 K and effective magnetic anisotropy constant k(eff) = 2.25 x 10(4) erg/cm(3) have been obtained. dc Magnetization measurement versus magnetic field shows that some of LSMO nanoparticles are blocked at 293 K. The role of magnetic interparticle interactions on the magnetic behavior is also investigated. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.