Ferromagnetic clusters and phase separation in

Abstract: We have investigated the structural, magnetic, electrical transport and electron spin resonance properties of polycrystalline prepared by a sol–gel process. Above 270K, the compound is a paramagnetic insulator. As the compound is cooled from room temperature, ferromagnetic clusters are firstly developed below 270K. Nonetheless, the paramagnetic components still coexist with the ferromagnetic clusters. For , a CE-type antiferromagnetic phase appears which makes the magnetization to decrease with decreasing temperature. The compound still reveals metallic characteristics below 160K due to a lot of ferromagnetic clusters coexisting with the antiferromagnetic domains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]