Structural, electrical, magnetic, elastic, and internal friction studies of Nd1−xCaxMnO3 (x=0.2, 0.33, 0.4, and 0.5) manganites

A series of Nd1−xCaxMnO3 (x=0.2, 0.33, 0.4, and 0.5) manganites was prepared by sol–gel route by sintering at 1300 °C, mainly to understand the correlation between electron, spin, and phonon couplings. The internal friction and longitudinal modulus along with electrical and magnetic properties have been measured. All the samples are found to exhibit anomalies at TC, TN, and TCO transition temperatures. The anomalies in longitudinal modulus and the internal friction peak at TCO are attributed to Jahn–Teller effect. A strong correlation between the temperature dependent elastic, anelastic, resistivity, and ac susceptibility properties has been observed and an effort has been made to explain the observed anomalous behavior by a qualitative model.

► A series of Nd1−xCaxMnO3 (x=0.2, 0.33, 0.4, and 0.5) manganites were prepared by sol–gel route.
► Structural, magneto-transport, elastic, and internal friction studies were carried out.
► Correlation has been observed between magnetic, electrical, elastic, and anelastic properties.
► Elastic anomalies observed in the vicinity of TCO may be explained by using the ideas of JT effect.
► Internal friction seems to be a powerful technique to elucidate the intrinsic inhomogenity.