Structural, electrical and magnetic study of polycrystalline La0.4Bi0.1Ca0.5MnO3

We have investigated structural, electrical and magnetic properties of polycrystalline sample La0.4Bi0.1Ca0.5MnO3. The X-ray powder diffraction data shows that the sample is single phase and crystallizes in the orthorhombic structure with Pnma space group. Magnetization measurements show a sharp decrease of magnetization values comparing to La0.5Ca0.5MnO3 compound. Our sample exhibits four magnetic transitions as a function of temperature. The charge ordering state seems to be stabilized with bismuth doping which can be explained by the role of the 6s2 lone pair electrons of Bi3+ ions. Electrical resistivity shows a semiconducting behavior in the temperature range 100-280 K. The study indicates also the presence of Griffiths below 270 K.