Electrical properties of the arc-melted, layered-perovskite system NdnTinO3n+2 with n = 4.5–6.5

NdnTinO3n+2, phases with n nominally 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6 and 6.5 have been prepared by the technique of arc-melting. As n is increased, (or, as oxygen is removed from Nd4Ti4O7), there is a large decrease in the measured resistances, although the materials remained semiconducting/insulating. Values of activation energies Ea ranging from ∼0.086 to 140 meV are observed and are similar to those observed for other isostructural layered systems. Although lattice parameters could not be extracted due to the multiphase nature of our samples, the results overall correlate with electron microscopy studies and with studies on isostructural materials. It is suggested that these materials may be useful in studying the electrical properties of 1-dimensional materials, as sensors, or possibly materials/systems with electric-field controlled charge carrier density.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Preparation of layered-perovskite materials by the arc-melting technique. ► Study of crystal structure–electrical property relationships. ► Discussion of use of these materials in sensors and as possible materials to study 1-dimensional electrical behaviour.