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Magnetization relaxation, ac susceptibility, dc magnetization and magnetoelectrical transport measurements have been carried out on Al3+-doped manganites La 0.5 Ca 0.5 Mn 1- x Al x O 3- δ (x = 0.05, 0.07, 0.09, 0.10, 0.15). Experimental results suggest that nonmagnetic Al3+ substituting Mn suppresses the ferromagnetic phase and induces a charge ordered antiferromagnetic phase. The coexistence and competition of these two kinds of interactions result in a spin-glass like state in x = 0.1 and 0.15 system. Obvious hysteresis was observed in both magnetization and resistivity versus temperature and magnetic field curves, suggesting an inhomogeneous metastable phase transition. Upon applying a magnetic field of H C A-F, the Al3+-doped samples undergo an irreversible metamagnetic transition from the charge ordering antiferromagnetic insulating to ferromagnetic metallic phase in the low temperature region. Phase diagram in the H C - T plane has been determined according to the magnetization and magnetoelectric transport measurements. The magnetic disorders and antiferromagnetic matrix produced by Al3+ dopants and spontaneous oxygen vacancies play an important role in the pinning of the FM phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that the replacement of Mn with Al strongly affects the magnetization and electrical transport behaviors in La 0.5 Ca 0.5 Mn 1- x Al x O 3- δ (x = 0, 0.05, 0.07 and 0.09). Nonmagnetic Al3+ ions substitution at Mn sites dilutes Mn3+-O2--Mn4+ network, thus suppresses the ferromagnetic metallic state in La 0.5 Ca 0.5 MnO 3- δ and causes a phase separation phenomenon, in which ferromagnetic phase coexists with antiferromagnetic charge ordered phase at low temperatures. With applying sufficiently high magnetic field, step-like metamagnetic transitions were observed in x = 0.05–0.09 systems below helium temperature, in which the antiferromagnetic charge ordered phase collapsed into ferromagnetic phase. Corresponding to the sharp step-like metamagnetic transitions, the resistivity decreases dramatically with increasing magnetic field, exhibiting a percolative insulator-metal transition. The variation of temperature and magnetic field changes the relative fractions of ferromagnetic and charge ordering phases, and percolative insulator-metal transition occurs due to the development of percolation paths between the growing FM domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Al3+ doping effects on the ferromagnetic metallic state of La 0.55 Ca 0.45 MnO 3 have been studied by preparing the La 0.55 Ca 0.45 Mn 1- x Al x O 3- δ (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15) ceramics. Various measurements such as ac susceptibility, relaxation, magnetization and resistivity were performed to study the magnetic and magnetotransport properties. The magnetic disorder produced by the Al3+ dopants and the oxygen vacancies suppress the long range ferromagnetic ordering and induce a short range charge ordered antiferromagnetic clusters, leading to a phase separated behavior in the Al3+-doped samples. A Griffith-like behavior is observed due to the occurrence of short range ferromagnetic clusters in the paramagnetic phase. The 15% Al3+ doping sample exhibits a spin-glass state. The 10% Al3+ doping system is blocked in a metastable state upon cooling at zero field, and a sharp metamagnetic transition is induced by applying a high magnetic field, in which the antiferromagnetic phase is transformed into ferromagnetic phase and the ferromagnetic clusters grow in size. The ferromagnetic domains grows rapidly when applying a high magnetic field. Once the conducting ferromagnetic domains are interconnected throughout the sample, a percolative insulating-to-metallic state transition would occur, accompanied by a sharp drop in resistivity. • Al3+ doping induces charge ordered AFM clusters in La 0.55 Ca 0.45 Mn 1- x Al x O 3- δ. • The magnetic disorder caused by Al3+ doping suppresses the long rang FM ordering. • The AFM clusters transform into FM phase via field driven metamagnetic transition. • Percolative insulator-metallic transition occurs when applying a magnetic field up to H C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tuning effects of Al3+ doping on the magnetic and magnetotransport properties of La 0·6 Ca 0·4 MnO 3- δ have been studied by preparing series La 0·6 Ca 0·4 Mn 1- x Al x O 3- δ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.125 and 0.15). Al3+ doping suppresses the ferromagnetic metal phase of La 0·6 Ca 0·4 MnO 3- δ by weakening the double-exchange interaction of Mn3+-O2--Mn4+, leading to a phase separation state. Al3+ doping dependent irreversible metamagnetic transitions are observed at lower temperatures, especially a martensitic-like transition appears in x = 0.125 and 0.15 system below 4.2 K. Phase diagrams of La 0·6 Ca 0·4 Mn 1- x Al x O 3- δ (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) in the B - T plane are presented, in which the antiferromagnetic insulator and ferromagnetic metal phases boundary is figured out. The antiferromagnetic matrix and magnetic disorders caused by the random distribution of Al3+ ions and the spontaneous oxygen vacancies grow into a pinning center to pin the Mn moments. As magnetic field is increased to the critical field, the localized magnetic moments rotate to parallel to the magnetic field direction, leading to a martensitic-like transition. • Phase separation scenario is induced by Al3+ doping in La 0·6 Ca 0·4 Mn 1- x Al x O 3- δ. • Martensitic-like transition was observed in x = 0.125 and 0.15 systems below 4.2 K. • The pinning effects of disorder play a crucial role in martensitic-like transition. • Phase diagram of La 0·6 Ca 0·4 Mn 1- x Al x O 3- δ (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) in B - T plane is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]