Electron magnetic resonance study of monovalent Na doping in Pr0.6Sr0.4−xNaxMnO3 manganites

Effect of monovalent Na doping on the magnetic properties is studied in Pr0.6Sr0.4−xNaxMnO3 system (x = 0, 0.05) using X-band electron magnetic resonance and magnetization measurements. Temperature variation of magnetic resonance spectra of doped and undoped manganites is analyzed for paramagnetic and ferromagnetic states and compared to similar systems. In paramagnetic phase the magnetic susceptibility proportional to resonance signal intensity is found to obey the Curie–Weiss law. The effective magnetic moment becomes smaller in doped manganite. The paramagnetic Curie temperature derived from signal intensity equals to 312 and 306 K for the undoped and doped manganites, respectively, and is close to values obtained from magnetization variation in paramagnetic phase. The activation energy determined using the adiabatic small polaron hopping model is higher for the undoped than the doped manganite, which proves that the Na doping slightly reduces the Mn3+/Mn4+ double exchange interactions.

► New monovalent doped manganites Pr0.6Sr0.4−xNaxMnO3 (x = 0, 0.05).
► Comparison of electron magnetic resonance spectra in ferro- and paramagnetic phases.
► Double exchange interactions weakened by Na doping as indicated by activation energy.
► Magnetic susceptibility derived from resonance intensity obeys Curie–Weiss law.