Structural and magnetic properties of La0.7Sr0.1AgxMnO3-δ perovskite manganites

Ag-doped manganite powder samples, La0.7Sr0.1AgxMnO3 d (x = 0.00, 0.025, 0.05, 0.075, and 0.10) were synthesized using the sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that the samples had two phases with the R (3) over barc perovskite being the dominant phase and Mn3O4 being the second phase. X-ray energy dispersive spectra indicated that the ratio of Ag to La was very close to that of the nominal composition in the samples. The specific saturation magnetizations at 300 K increased from 32.0 A.m(2)/kg when x = 0.00 to 46.8 A.m(2)/kg when x = 0.10. The Curie temperature, T-C, of the samples increased from 310 K when x = 0.00 to 328 K when x = 0.10. Because the atomic concentration ratios of La, Sr, and Mn in the five samples were all the same and only the Ag concentration changed, the variations of the specific saturation magnetizations at 300 K and the Curie temperatures suggested that the Ag cations have been doped into the A sites of the perovskite phase in the samples.