Silver doping in lanthanum manganite materials: structural and electrical properties

Ag-doped LaMnO3 nanoparticles have been synthesized through sol–gel process using citric acid as a chelating agent. Silver effect on physicochemical properties was studied. The physicochemical properties and electrical performance of the obtained materials were also investigated, using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Thermogravimetric analysis shows that for the studied materials a decomposition stage between 3.7% and 4.1% can be observed, and mass increases from the LMN-Ag1 to the LMN-Ag3 sample. Also, in all those three situations an endothermic process with a maximum around 600 °C is observed. The diffractograms of the perovskite materials showed single-phase crystalline with high purity and rhombohedral structure with R-3c space group. The electrical measurements show that the conductivity spectrum is formed by both the static component σDC corresponding to the low frequencies and the component σAC corresponding to high frequencies. The values of σDC of samples are significantly influenced by the silver ions concentration.