Abstract

(La_0.5Nd_0.2Sr_0.3)MnO₃ specimens were prepared by a solid-state reaction. In all specimens, X-ray diffraction patterns of an orthorhombic structure were shown. The fracture surfaces of (La_0.5Nd_0.2Sr_0.3)MnO₃ specimens showed a transgranular fracture pattern be possibly due to La ions (0.122 nm) as a perovskite A-site dopant substituting for Nd ions (0.115 nm) having a small ionic radius. The full-width at half maximum (FWHM) of the Mn 2p XPS spectra showed a value greater than that [8] of the single valence state, which is believed to be due to the overlapping of Mn²⁺, Mn³⁺, and Mn⁴⁺ ions. The dependence of Mn 2p spectra on the Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ ratio according to sintering time was not observed. Electrical resistivity resulted in the minimum value of 100.7 Ω-cm for the specimen sintered for 9 hours. All specimens show a typical negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) characteristics. In the 9-hour sintered specimen, TCR, activation energy, and B25/65-value were -1.24%/℃, 0.19 eV, and 2,445 K, respectively.

• Keywords: La, Nd, Sr, MnO₃, Thermistor, Hopping conduction, Structural properties, Electrical properties