Magnetic, electrical transport and electron spin resonance studies of ferromagnetic insulating manganites Nd0.85Na0.15MnO3

We have investigated the magnetic, electrical transport and electron spin resonance (ESR) properties of polycrystalline Nd0.85Na0.15MnO3 prepared by sol–gel method. A ferromagnetic–paramagnetic (FM–PM) transition is observed around 110K, which is not accompanied by a metal–insulator transition. The sample displays the complete PM state associated with the ESR spectra fitted by single Lorentzian line shape above 130K. Below 130K, ESR spectra become distorted and then linewidth increases rapidly, where short-range magnetic order develops and coexists with PM phase due to the inhomogeneous magnetic state. In addition, the large difference between the activation energies obtained from the resistivity and ESR parameters (peak-to-peak linewidth and line intensity) at the frame of adiabatic small polaron hopping model is pointed out for Nd0.85Na0.15MnO3.