Impact of Ni doping on La0.7Sr0.3NixMn1-xO3 perovskite manganite materials

On-line ultrasonic measurements on La0.7Sr0.3Mn1-xNixO3 perovskite manganite material (x=0.01, 0.02 and 0.03) were performed on the samples synthesised by solid state reaction technique. The XRD studies on the samples confirm the crystalline nature with single phase rhombohedral structure having R3C space group. The average size of the particles determined using SEM images are 0.587, 0.412 and 0.356 um for x=0.01, 0.02 and 0.03 respectively. The temperature dependent ultrasonic velocities and attenuation measurements on the samples were used to reveal the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic phase transition temperature (Curie temperature) 374, 358 and 342 K for the values of x=0.01, 0.02 and 0.03 respectively. In addition, ultrasonic measurements confirm that the increase in Ni doping concentration in La0.7Sr0.3Mn1-xNixO3 perovskites leads to a decrease in Curie temperature. The change in Mn3+/Mn4+ ratio with the phase transition temperature was explained on the basis of variation in amplitude of observed anomaly in ultrasonic measurements. The replacement of Mn4+ ion by Ni2+ ion leads to a change in the structural parameters and in the concentration of Mn3+ and Mn4+ ions. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.