STUDY OF METAL-INSULATOR TRANSITION

Abstract

The Metal-Insulator transition was studied in the rare earth nickelates i.e. RNiO3 (R= Pr, Nd, Sm etc), the lanthanum compound shows a metallic behavior along the whole temperature range, while the other rare earth nickelates . have an MI transition at a temperature (TMI) which increases as the size of the rare earth R decreases. A .four-probe set-up was established to measure R-T. Studies have been done on the different samples of NdNiO3 , PrNiO3 , SmNiO3 etc. The effect of different annealing conditions has been studied on TMJ as well as on the microstructure of the bulk samples. The effect of doping in the NdNiO3 has also been studied. The XRD graphs and SEM Photo Micrographs were taken to study the phase formation and Microstructure of the bulk samples.