Magnon drag contribution to thermopower of Nd_(0.67)Sr_(0.33)MnO_3 nanocrystalline manganites

摘要

With a view to investigate the influence of nanosize on thermopower behavior of Nd_(0.67)Sr_(0.33)MnO_3 manganites, a systematic investigation of their temperature dependent thermoelectric power (TEP) studies has been undertaken. For this purpose, the samples with different particle sizes were prepared by the sol-gel method by sintering at four different temperatures (viz., 800, 900, 1000, and 1100 ℃). The average crystallite sizes were calculated using a modified Scherrer's formula. The ferromagnetic metallic (FMM) part of the TEP data were fitted to an equation containing diffusion, magnon drag, and phonon drag terms. The relative weights of these contributions were estimated and it has been found that the magnon drag contribution predominantly contributes to the TEP in the FMM region. The phonon drag process in the samples of the present investigation is found to be dominant along the direction of cell parameter "a" than the other two directions. Finally, the paramagnetic insulting part of the TEP data has been analyzed by using small polaron hopping mechanism.