Synthesis and magnetic characterization of la_2-xsrxcuo₄ nanoparticles

Non-doped and strontium-doped lanthanum cuprates (La2CuO4 (LCO) and La1.85Sr0.15CuO4 (LSCO15)) in nano-sized particles were synthesized by the chemically dissolved technique employing HNO3 as the dissolving agent. The structural and magnetic properties were investigated by using an x-ray diffraction (XRD) apparatus and a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer, respectively. The XRD patterns of LCO and LSCO15 show the formation of the single phase without impurities after the calcinations in air at 1100^oC for 15 h and the post-annealing in oxygen at 800^oC for 24 h. The average crystallite sizes of LCO and LSCO15 samples were in a range of around 100 nm confirming nano-sized particles. The LCO and LSCO15 nanoparticles exhibit superconductivity at the superconducting (SC) transition temperature, Tc, of 23 K and 38 K, respectively. The magnetization curve measurements have revealed that both samples show the appearance of ferro-and dia-magnetic behavior at room temperature and the appearance of superconductivity at low temperatures. This result may indicate the coexistence of ferromagnetism and superconductivity below Tc in the nano-sized cuprates.