The structural and magnetic properties of one-step mechanochemical route synthesized La0.8Pb0.2MnO3 manganites

Mechanochemical route has been used to produce La0.8Pb0.2MnO3 (LPMO) nanocrystalline samples from oxide precursors. The samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and AC susceptibility measurements. The results showed that it is possible to produce LPMO perovskite powders after 10 h of ball milling. The crystallite size and microstrain were estimated using Williamson-Hall equation. The results showed that the crystallite size and microstrain increase initially and then decrease by the increase of milling time. By decreasing particle size the dislocation density (strain) increases and reaches to a saturation point at a particular particle size, further particle size reduction takes place through gliding motion along grain boundaries, which leads to a reduction of the strain. The dynamic properties of 15 h ball-milled sample were investigated by AC susceptibility using the Neel-Brown and Vogel-Fulcher law for superparamagnetism. The frequency dependence of blocking temperature is well described by the Vogel-Fulcher law, and fitting the experimental data with Neel-Brown law gives unphysical value for relaxation time.