Structural and Magnetic Behavior of (Ni, Cu) Substituted Nd0.67Sr0.33MnO3 Perovskite Compounds

Abstract

Structural and magnetic phase transition of Ni and Cu substituted Nd0.67Sr0.33MnO3 perovskite compounds have been investigated. The Rietveld refinement of X-ray powder diffraction patterns confirms that both compounds have crystallized into an orthorhombic structure with Pbnm space group same as that of Nd0.67Sr0.33MnO3 compound. X-ray absorption spectra studies completely ruled out the possibility of existence of any impurities. Both compounds do not obey the Curie-Weiss law indicates the presence of some ferromagnetic clusters within the paramagnetic matrix. Ni substituted compound shows a lower value of TC and Cu substituted compound shows a higher value of TC than that of the parent. Non-saturating tendency of magnetization is more prominently seen in the case of Cu substituted compound, indicating an increase in the AFM component.