Analyzing electrical transport phenomena in NdMn0.3Co0.7O3

The effect of Co doping on the conduction mechanism of polycrystalline NdMn0.3Co0.7O3 (NMCO7) sample, is studied by measuring the temperature-dependent dc resistivity ρ (T) from 150 K to 400 K. The temperature dependence of electrical resistivity indicates a typical semiconducting behavior of NMCO7. The electrical resistivity data as a function of temperature is fitted using models such as the Arrhenius law, small polaron hopping, and Mott-variable range hopping. The data follows the thermal activation and the small polaron hopping model in the high-temperature region, the latter account for electron–phonon interaction. In contrast, at lower temperatures, the Mott-VRH yield better results. Hence, in the NMCO7 system, the charge transport properties are governed by a complex interplay among thermal activation localized electronic states, and Coulomb interactions.