Enhanced magnetoresistance in the complex perovskite LaCu3Mn4O12

Moderate-pressure techniques (P=2 GPa) have been used to prepare the complex LaCu3Mn4O12 perovskite. It has been characterized by neutron powder diffraction, magnetic, and magnetotransport measurements. This material is ferrimagnetic below TC=361 K. The magnetoresistance (MR) is enhanced with respect to that of CaCu3Mn4O12 due to the effective electronic injection that dramatically reduces the bulk resistivity, thus promoting the grain-boundary contribution to the electrical resistance. Values of low-field MR close to 3% at room temperature are achieved for magnetic fields of 1 T.