High temperature magnetic and transport properties of PrBaCo2O6-δ cobaltite: Spin blockade evidence

The experimental data are presented for magnetic susceptibility and electrical conductivity in PrBaCo2O6-δ at 850-1223 K. The decrease of oxygen content at heating is accompanied by formation of Co3+ cations that may simultaneously reside in oxygen pyramidal and octahedral coordination with intermediate and high spins, respectively. The small polaron p-type electron transport is shown to be mediated by the intermediate-spin Co3+ while high-spin Co3+ cations in octahedral environment are excluded from polaron jumps due to the spin blockade effect.