A Griffiths-like phase and variable range hopping of polarons in orthorhombic perovskite Pr2CrMnO6

Abstract

Orthorhombic perovskite Pr₂CrMnO₆ has been synthesized by the Pechini method. XPS analysis confirms the presence of multiple oxidation states of Cr²⁺/Cr³⁺ and Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ in the compound. From the electrical transport study, it is found that the resistivity of the material varies from 64 × 10⁴–3 × 10⁴ Ohm meter (Ωm) in the temperature range of 123–300 K. Variable range hopping of polarons is found to be responsible for the conduction in the material. The transition temperature (T_C) of the compound is found to be at 57 K. From thermomagnetic data, the presence of short-range ferromagnetic correlations is confirmed, which constitutes the Griffiths-like phase in Pr₂CrMnO₆ up to the Griffiths temperature T_G = 144 K.