Colossal magnetoresistance in the double perovskite oxide La2CoMnO6

Polycrystalline sample of La2CoMnO6 has been synthesized by sol-gel technique. The powder x-ray diffraction data confirm the single phase nature of the sample. This compound has monoclinic crystal structure (space group P21/n) at room temperature. The temperature dependence of magnetization in low field shows considerable variation between zero-field-cooled and field-cooled magnetization curve below ∼210 K (TC) and it follows Curie–Weiss law in the paramagnetic region. The hysteresis loop at 5 K indicates a coercive field of ∼6 kOe and remnant magnetization of ∼2.32 μB/f.u. The temperature dependence of the resistivity data shows semiconductorlike behavior in the temperature range of 5–350 K and follows variable range hopping conduction mechanism in the temperature range 215–350 K. A colossal magnetoresistance of ∼80% is observed at 5 K in an applied field of 80 kOe and MR has a negative sign.