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Effect of Grain Size on Resistivity and Voltage-Dependent Dynamic Conductance in Nano-crystalline Nd\(_{0.6}\)Sr\(_{0.4}\)CoO\(_3\)

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Abstract

The resistivity behaviour and voltage-dependent dynamic conductance of Nd\(_{0.6}\)Sr\(_{0.4}\)CoO\(_3\) nanomaterials were studied with respect to two different grain sizes (\(\sim \) 55 nm and \(\sim \) 140 nm). Three distinct regions were observed in the temperature-dependent resistivity (\(\rho -T\)) graph. An upturn in the\(\rho -T\) curve was observed below 100 K, which was enhanced with decreasing grain size. This enhancement was investigated, and the analysis suggests that electron–electron interaction plays a key role. We probed the transport mechanism using the isothermal current–voltage (I–V) characteristics. Non-linear dynamic conductance was found for both samples. A temperature-dependent non-linear exponent suggests three types of current transport mechanisms. A voltage-driven crossover from inelastic tunnelling via localized states to direct elastic tunnelling through the grain boundary was observed around the critical region for metal insulator transition.

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Original data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to UGC-DAE CSR, Kolkata for providing some experimental facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Raghunathpur College, Raghunathpur, Purulia, 723133, India

    Pritish Paul & Moumita Patra

  2. Department of Physics, City College, 102/1, Raja Rammohan Sarani, Kolkata, 70009, India

    Arindam Midya

  3. Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, Purulia, India

    Subal Chandra De

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Paul, P., Midya, A., De, S.C. et al. Effect of Grain Size on Resistivity and Voltage-Dependent Dynamic Conductance in Nano-crystalline Nd\(_{0.6}\)Sr\(_{0.4}\)CoO\(_3\). J. Electron. Mater. 52, 8263–8269 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-023-10751-w

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