Synthesis and magnetic and transport properties of sol-gel derived manganite perovsikte Nd(1-x)A(x)MnO(3) (A=Sr, Ba)

We report a reproducible polymeric sol-gel process for the synthesis of man ganite perovskite Nd(1-x)A(x)MnO(3) (A = Sr, Ba) thin films exhibiting colo ssal magnetoresistance. A series of Nd(1-x)A(x)MnO(3) coating solutions (3 % solid content) was prepared by mixing the corresponding stock solutions o f the strontium 2-methoxyethoxide, manganese(II) acetate tetrahydrate, bari um 2-methoxyethoxide, and neodyium(III) acetylacetonate in an appropriate m olar ratio. The solutions underwent further processing steps of hydrolysis, spin coating, and heat treatment to form Nd(1-x)A(x)MnO(3) thin films. We also studied the magnetic and the transport properties of the Samples. It w as found that the ferromagnetic transition temperatures T(C)s, the resisiti vity, the magnitude of the magnetization, the room-temperature magnetoresis tance effect of the sol-gel derived Nd(1-x)A(x)MnO(3) thin films were compa rable to those of the samples grown using other techniques.