55Mn NMR observation of colossal magnetoresistance effect in Sm0.55Sr0.45MnO3.

Temperature dependent 55Mn NMR study of Sm0.55Sr0.45MnO3 is reported. Previous bulk magnetization measurements have shown that below T C ~ 125 K the sample is ferromagnetic metallic (FMM) and above TC it is charge ordered and insulating. In present report, we show that from zero-field NMR a single line double-exchange (DE) signal is observed at temperatures up to 139 K, which is due to a presence of FMM clusters also above T C. The intensity of the DE line follows the temperature dependence of the magnetization measured at 0.01 T. When a magnetic field up to 2 T is applied at 139 K (i.e. 14 K above T C), a strong increase in NMR intensity of the DE line is observed indicating that content of FMM regions increases. This reveals that metallicity is induced in the material by the applied magnetic field and explains the observed colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) effect at the microscopic level. The observation agrees with previous results, which confirm that the percolation of the FMM clusters is responsible for the CMR effect. The shift of the resonant frequency in the applied field is three times smaller compared to decrease expected from gyromagnetic ratio, which indicates an antiferromagnetic coupling between the FMM clusters.

Correlation between the magnetic imaging of cobalt nanoconstrictions and their magnetoresistance response.

Scanning transmission x-ray microscopy (STXM) and magnetoresistance (MR) measurements are used to investigate the magnetic behavior of a nanoconstriction joining two micrometric electrodes (a pad and a wire). The reversal of the magnetization under variable external static magnetic fields is imaged. By means of a detailed analysis of the STXM images at the nanocontact area, the MR is calculated, based on diffusive anisotropic-MR. This MR agrees well with that obtained from electrical transport measurements, allowing a direct correlation between the MR signal and the magnetic reversal of the system. The magnetization behavior depends on the sample thickness and constriction dimensions. In 40 nm-thick samples, with 20 × 175 nm(2) contact areas, the magnetization at the two sides of the constriction forms a net angle of 90°, with a progressive evolution of the magnetization structure between the electrodes during switching. The MR in those cases has a more peaked shape than with 20 nm-thick electrodes and 10 × 80 nm(2) contact areas, where the magnetization forms 180° between them, with a wide domain wall pinned at the constriction. As a consequence of this configuration, a plateau in the MR is observed for about 20 Oe.

EXAFS studies on the reaction of gold (III) chloride complex ions with sodium hydroxide and glucose.

EXAFS and QEXAFS experiments were carried out at Hasylab laboratory in DESY center (X1 beamline, Hamburg, Germany) to monitor the course of the hydrolysis reactions of [AuCl(4)](-) complex ions as well as their reduction using glucose. As a result, changes in the spectra of [AuCl(4)](-) ions and disappearance of absorption Au-L(3) edge were registered. From the results of the experiments we have carried out, the changes in bond lengths between Au(3+) central ion and Cl(-) ligands as well as the reduction of Au(3+) to metallic form (colloidal gold was formed in the system) are evident. Good quality spectra obtained before and after the reactions gave a chance to determine the bond length characteristic of Au-Cl, Au-OH and Au-Au pairs. Additionally, the obtained results were compared with the simulated spectra of different gold (III) complex ions, possibly present in the solution. Finally, the mechanism of these reactions was suggested. Unfortunately, it was not possible to detect the changes in the structure of gold (III) complex ions within the time of reaction, because of too high rates of both processes (hydrolysis and reduction) as compared with the detection time.