Search for room temperature high-TCR manganite/silver composites

We have synthesized La0.7Ba0.3MnO3 (LBMO):wt%Agx and La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO):wt%Agx composites with x=0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 at different sintering temperatures of 1300 and 1400 °C by solid-state reaction route. In our previous work [Awana et al. Solid State Commun. 140 (2006) 410] on La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 (LCMO):Agx (x=0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) composites, we reported about 12% temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) for Ag0.4 samples near metal–insulator (MI) transition, which was explained on the basis of better grains connectivity. A sharp MI transition results in high TCR. Such high-TCR material can be used as a bolometer or infrared detector at room temperature. In the present work, it is shown that the TCR is improved with Ag addition for both LBMO:wt%Agx and LSMO:wt%Agx composites. In addition to improvement in TCR, high MR is also achieved in the vicinity of room temperature.