Magnetic Properties and Spin State Transition of Gallium Doped Perovskite Cobaltite Oxide

A series of Ga doping perovskite cobaltite La_2/3Sr_1/3(Co_1-yGa_y)O₃ (y=0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4) are prepared by the standard solid-state reaction method. Their magnetic properties and Co ions spin state transitions are studied. Upon doping, no appreciable structure changes can be found. However, the corresponding Curie temperature sharply decreases and the magnetization is greatly reduced, indicating that Ga doping destroys the ferromagnetic interaction in the system. In addition, the high temperature magnetization data follow the Curie--Weiss law. At least one kind of Co ions (Co³⁺ or
Co⁴⁺) favours the mixed spin state, and most Co ions are at the lower spin state (low and intermediate state). With increasing Ga content, more Co ions transit to the higher spin state.