Polymeric citrate precursor route to synthesize nanostructured perovskite type mixed oxide neodymium strontium manganate

The samples of the manganite compound Nd0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (NSMO) were prepared by polymeric citrate precursor route in order to obtain high purity homogeneous powder and to lower the temperature values of heat treatments. This compound crystallizes in an orthorhombic structure (space group pnma). In polymeric citrate precursor route synthesis of NSMO based on the dissolution and homogenization of metal salts in citric acid-nitric acid mixture without using any complexing aid, which is essentially used in the polymeric precursor route. The powders were sintered at different temperatures at 700 deg C-1050 deg C. The particle size was calculated by Debye Scherrer's formula and got in 16-35 nm range for all the samples. The samples were characterized by Powder X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)). The phase contents and lattice parameters were studied by powder XRD. Morphological and grain size studies were done through SEM. Chemical bonds were identified by FTIR spectroscopy. We report the detailed analysis of the mentioned data in this communication. (author)