Thermopower studies of Pr0.67D0.33MnO3 manganite system

With a view to explaining the structural and electrical transport behaviour of some rare earth manganites, having the general formula Pr0.67D0.33MnO3 (D = Ca, Sr, Pb and Ba), a systematic investigation of the electrical resistivity, thermopower and magnetic properties has been undertaken. These materials were prepared using the citrate-gel route by sintering at 900 deg. C. All the materials were characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, etc measurements. The x-ray data were analysed using the Rietveld method and the variation of various parameters involved in the process as explained. The average crystallite size of the materials has been estimated using the peak broadening method, while TC and TP values were determined from ac magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity measurements, respectively. Finally, the magnetoresistance (MR) measurements were also carried out over a magnetic field of 1-7 T and the data clearly exhibit the extrinsic MR in ferromagnetic metallic region. The influence of average A-site cation radius (rA) and cation mismatch parameter σ2 on thermoelectric power (TEP), MR, electrical and magnetic transitions has been analysed. The TEP data at low temperatures (T < TP) have been analysed by considering the magnon concepts, while the high temperature (T > TP) data were explained by the Mott's small polaron conduction mechanism. The effects of (rA) and σ2 on polaron activation and hopping energies were also studied systematically