Crystal growth and characterization of the CMR compound La-1.2(Sr,Ca)(1.8)Mn2O7

High-quality centimeter-sized single crystals of La1.2Sr1.8-yCaMn2O7 (0.0 l ess than or equal toy less than or equal to0.2) were successfully grown usi ng a floating zone method associated with an image furnace. We present the growth conditions together with a characterization of the single crystals b y means of optical and electron microscopy, EDX and ICP/AES analysis, DTA-T GA measurements and redox titration, X-ray powder diffraction, Laue X-ray b ack-reflection and neutron diffraction. We also stress the main aspects of the complex thermodynamical and kinetic behaviors of these compounds. (C) 2 000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.