Structural and Electrical Properties of Monovalent Doped Manganites Pr0.6Sr0.4−x K x MnO3 (x=0, 0.05 and 0.1)

Abstract

Structural and electrical properties of the mixed-valence monovalent doped manganites Pr0.6Sr0.4−x K x MnO3 (x=0, 0.05 and 0.1), prepared using the conventional solid-state synthesis method, have been investigated. Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction patterns at room temperature shows a slight increase in unit cell volume with K content and confirms that all powder samples are single phase and crystallize in the orthorhombic structure with Pnma space group. Electrical resistivity measurements under and without magnetic field show a transition from the metallic to insulating behavior. The electrical conductivity is improved with increasing K content. The resistivity data in metallic region were fitted according to the electron–electron scattering process while in insulating region they were fitted using the small polaron hopping SPH model and Mott’s variable range hopping VRH model.