Magnetic and transport properties of perovskite manganites (La1-xGdx)4/3Sr5/3Mn2O7 (x=0, 0.025) polycrystalline samples

The polycrystalline samples of two-layered perovskite manganites (La1-xGdx)4/3Sr5/3Mn2O7 (x=0, 0.025) are prepared by traditional solid state reaction method. X-ray diffraction measurements show that both samples are of the Sr3Ti2O7 -type tetragonal phase (space groups I4/mmm). Magnetic measurements show that Gd3+ doping reduces the magnetic transition temperature (TC3D) and magnetization (M) of the doped sample (La0.975Gd0.025)4/3Sr5/3Mn2O7, which is because Gd3+ doping induces lattice distortion and change the lattice constant, and subsequently weakens the double exchange interactions. It is found from electron spin resonance measurements that short-range ferromagnetic clusters appear in the paramagnetic background of both samples at temperatures TC3DTTC3DT0.975Gd0.025)4/3Sr5/3Mn2O7 has a higher resistance. This is because Gd3+ doping reduces the localization length of carriers, and makes conducting carriers absorb more energy to overcome the bound potentials in the lattice.