JOURNAL OF NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY, cilt.8, sa.2, ss.846-853, 2008 (SCI-Expanded)
Pure and Na, Ca, and Sr doped lanthanum manganites (LaMnO3, La0.85Na0.15MnO3, La0.7Ca0.3 MnO3, La0.7Sr0.3MnO3) were prepared in form of bulk nano-structured materials through a two-step process. Nanometric powders were synthesized by the Pechini method and subsequently densified by Spark Plasma Sintering at 12,73 K for 5 minutes under a pressure of 140 MPa. The method allowed the preparation of single phase manganites with a theoretical density above 98% together with a very limited growth of the grain size. Grain sizes below 70 nm were obtained for all materials except La0.85Na0.15MnO3 which showed a much larger grain size. Curie temperatures (T-C) and magneto resistivity properties of the samples were measured by a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID). The decrease in the resistivity below T-C occurred in a much wider range of temperature compared to ceramics having micron-size grains.