Lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM or LSMO) is an oxide ceramic material with the general formula La1-xSrxMnO3, where x describes the doping level and is usually in the range of 10-20%.
It has a perovskite-based crystal structure, which has the general form ABO3. In the crystal, the 'A' sites are occupied by lanthanum and strontium atoms, and the 'B' sites are occupied by manganese atoms. In other words, the material consists of lanthanum manganite doped with strontium oxide.
LSM is black in color and has a density of approximately 6.5 grams/mL. The actual density will vary depending on the processing method and actual stoichiometry. LSM is primarily an electronic conductor, with transference number close to 1.
This material is commonly used in as a cathode material in commercially produced solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) because it has a high electrical conductivity at higher temperatures, and its thermal expansion coefficient is well matched with yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), a common material for SOFC electrolytes.
In research, LSM is one of the perovskite manganites that show the colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) effect, and is also an observed half-metal for compositions around x=0.3.
LSM behaves like a half-metal, suggesting its possible use in spintronics. It displays a colossal magnetoresistance effect. Above its Curie temperature (about 350K) Jahn-Teller polarons are formed; the material's ability to conduct electricity is dependent on the presence of the polarons.