Microstructural, Electrical-, Magneto-Transport Properties of Grain Size Modulated Nanocrystalline Nd0.67Sr0.33MnO3 CMR Manganites

Abstract

ABSTRACTWe have investigated the effect of nanometric grain sizes on Microstructural, electrical-, magneto-transport and magnetic behaviors in nanocrystalline Nd0.67Sr0.33MnO3 CMR manganites. Three nanocrystalline powders of Nd0.67Sr0.33MnO3 were synthesized through chemical route “Pyrophoric Reaction Process” and calcined for 5 hrs at calcinations temperature (TCal = 650°C, 750°C, and 850°C). XRD patterns indicate that all the synthesized powders have pseudo-cubic perovskite structure without any secondary impurity phase. Using Debye Scherrer formula we calculated the crystallites size for three nanocrystalline Nd0.67Sr0.33MnO3 powders (∼ 30, 40, and 54 nm for TCal = 650°C, 750°C, and 850°C respectively). TEM micrographs show that the average particle sizes are in nanometric regime (ψ ∼ 30–50 nm). In AC susceptibility and resistivity measurement we observed that there is an almost constant Curie temperature (TC) has value around 240 K and gradual decrease of metal-insulator transition temperature (TP) (from 200-129 K) with decrease of TCal. The magneto resistance of ultra fine nanoparticles increases with grain sizes. Highest magnetoresistance observed ∼ 24 for Nd0.67Sr0.33MnO3 with TCal = 850°C. Experimental results revels, the effect of nanometric grain sizes has an important impact in magnetic properties and magneto-transport behaviors.