Magnetic and electronic properties of YCr1−Ni O3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) polycrystalline ceramics

Abstract In this manuscript, we have investigated the temperature evolution of magnetic and electronic properties in doped YCr1−xNixO3 (x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15). While both Cr3+ and Ni2+ are magnetic, the substitution of Ni2+ for Cr3+ changes the Cr ionic state which alters the magnetic correlation as well as the electrical resistivity. The system retains its original orthorhombic-Pnma structural symmetry, but unit cell volume shows an evolution with the Ni content. While the magnetic moment below TN initially decreases then re-increases with the Ni content, the magnetic transition temperature continuously decreases with Ni doping throughout the series. The electrical resistivity data exhibit an insulating behaviour throughout the temperature range, however, the resistivity decreases with Ni doping. The nature of charge conduction is found to follow Arrhenius-type conduction behaviour in the whole series.