Synthesis, characterization and electrical properties of the system LaMnxFe1−xO3

The system manganese substituted lanthanum ferrite viz. LaMnxFe1−xO3 (1.0 ≤ x ≥ 0) was prepared by sol–gel autocombusion method. The structural characterization of the samples was carried out by X-ray diffraction technique and it is found that, the phase transfer from cubic to orthorhombic perovskite structure. The lattice parameter and crystallite size decrease with increasing Mn content. The phase formation of perovskite was revealed by thermal analysis technique. The surface morphology and elemental analysis of all the samples were carried out by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic technique, respectively. Electrical properties of the compounds show that, they exhibit semiconducting behavior. The substitution of manganese ions plays an important role in changing their structural, electrical and magnetic properties of lanthanum ferrite.