Enhanced electrical correlation in the W-doped cobaltite Ca3Co4O9 ceramics

The effect of W-doping at Co-site on structural, magnetic, and transport properties in Ca3Co4−xWxO9 (0≤x≤0.4) polycrystalline samples has been studied. Based on the analysis of the structural parameter variations, the substitution is suggested to occur at Co-site in Ca2CoO3 layers. Magnetic results show that the low-temperature magnetic behavior of the series samples changes from a ferrimagnetic state of Ca3Co4O9 to a glass-like state for the W-doped samples. The result is suggested to originate from the variation of the average valence of Co ions induced by W-doping. All samples show metal-insulator transition at Tmin and Tmin increases monotonously with increasing W-doping level. The temperature range shows Fermi liquid transport behavior becomes narrower with increasing W-doping level, indicating an enhanced electron-electron correlation. Moreover, the resistivity increases and the transport mechanism changes from thermally activated model to the Mott's variable range hoping model as W-doped into the system. The variation of the resistivity and the transport mechanism is ascribed to the increased distortion or disorder induced by W-doping.