Ferromagnetically charge ordered nanoclusters in La$_{0.52}$Ca$_{0.48}$MnO$_{3}$

A charge-ordered (CO) nanoscale phase was reported to appear in coincidence with the well known colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) in a wide doping range in manganites. The competition between the CO nanoscale phase and the surrounding ferromagnetic (FM) phase has been considered as the key to understand the CMR phenomenon. However, the role of this nanoscale phase in the CMR effect is not fully established because the magnetic and physical properties of the CO nanoscale phase remain elusive. In particular, the CO nanoscale phase was hypothesized to be antiferromagnetic, the same as its long range counterpart. Here we report the experimental evidences showing the unexpected magnetism and resistivity in the CO nanoclusters in La$_{0.52}$Ca$_{0.48}$MnO$_{3}$. Correlated with a number of bulk property measurements, the transmission electron microscopic observations strongly suggest that the CO nanoclusters are FM and probably conducting. Such results could substantially alter the role of the CO nanoclusters in the CMR.