Variable-range hopping conductivity of La(1 - x)Sr(x)Mn(1 - y)Fe(y)O3.

The temperature dependence of the resistivity, ρ, of ceramic La(1 - x)Sr(x)Mn(1 - y)Fe(y)O(3) (LSMFO) samples with x = 0.3 and y = 0.03, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25 (or simply #03, #15, #20 and #25, respectively) is investigated between temperatures T ∼ 5 and 310 K in magnetic fields B up to 8 T. Metallic conductivity in #03 is changed eventually to activated in #25. In #15 and #20 the behavior of ρ(T) is more complicated, comprising of two extremes, divided by an interval of metallic behavior in #15, and two inflections of ρ(T) in #20 within similar intervals ΔT below approximately 100 K. Mott variable-range hopping (VRH) conductivity is observed in #15 above the ferromagnetic Curie temperature, T(C). In #20 the Mott VRH conductivity takes place in three different temperature intervals at T > T(C), T close to T(C) and T < T(C). In #25, the Mott VRH conductivity is observed in two different intervals, above and below T(C), divided by an intermediate interval of the Shklovskii-Efros VRH conduction regime. Analysis of the VRH conductivity yielded the values of the localization radius, α, and the dependence of α and of the density of the localized states, g, near the Fermi level, on B. Above T(C) the localization radius in all samples at B = 0 has similar values, α approximately 1.0-1.2 Å, which is enhanced to α approximately 3.3 Å (#20) and 2.0 Å (#25) below T(C). The sensitivity of α and g to B depend on y and T. The complicated behavior of the mechanisms of the hopping charge transfer, as well as of the microscopic parameters α and g, is attributable to different electronic and magnetic phases of LSMFO varying with temperature and Fe doping.

Lattice distortions, magnetoresistance and hopping conductivity in LaMnO(3+δ).

Structural and transport properties of ceramic LaMnO(3+δ) are investigated for δ = 0-0.154. According to x-ray diffraction measurements at room temperature the crystal structure of this compound varies from orthorhombic (Pbnm) for δ = 0 to rhombohedrally distorted cubic (Pm3m) for δ = 0.065-0.112 and to rhombohedral ([Formula: see text]) crystal symmetry for δ = 0.125-0.154. These structural modifications are confirmed by the Raman micro-spectroscopy measurements. The resistivity displays in the range δ = 0-0.154 an activated behaviour both above and below the paramagnetic (PM) to ferromagnetic transition temperature, T(C). In the field of 8 T the relative magnetoresistance, Δρ(B)/ρ(0), reaches at δ = 0.154 the values of -88% near T(C) and -98% at [Formula: see text] K. The resistivity of the PM phase of LaMnO(3+δ) with δ = 0.100-0.154 satisfies the Shklovskii-Efros-like variable-range hopping (VRH) conductivity law between [Formula: see text] K and the VRH onset temperature [Formula: see text] K. The resistivity is governed by a complex energy dependence of the density of the localized states near the Fermi level, comprising a soft Coulomb gap [Formula: see text] eV and a rigid gap [Formula: see text] eV, the latter being connected to formation of small polarons.