Structural and magnetic properties of LaPbMnO₃ nanowires

Nanoscale one-dimensional structures have attracted much interest because of their novel magnetic, electronic and optical properties as a result of their low dimensionality and quantum confinement effect. La_1-xPb _xMnO₃ (LPMO) nanowires are prepared using a simple sol-gel process and alumina oxide template. The as prepared LPMO nanowires are 200 nm in diameter and tens of microns in length. Prepared nanowires were annealed at 700°C for one hour and exhibit polycrystalline perovskite structure was confirmed from powder X-ray diffraction. The surface morphology of as grown and annealed sample was studied using scanning electron microscope. Magnetization measurements were performed from low temperature to room temperature. Field cooled and zero field cooled magnetic measurement with 500 Oe field reveals the cluster glass behaviour of the nanowires below the Curie temperature. Room temperature hysteresis measurements shows paramagnetic like behavior.