A Griffiths-like phase and variable range hopping of polarons in orthorhombic perovskite Pr2CrMnO6

Orthorhombic perovskite Pr2CrMnO6 has been synthesized by the Pechini method. XPS analysis confirms the presence of multiple oxidation states of Cr2+/Cr3+ and Mn3+/Mn4+ in the compound. From the electrical transport study, it is found that the resistivity of the material varies from 64 × 104–3 × 104 Ohm meter (Ωm) in the temperature range of 123–300 K. Variable range hopping of polarons is found to be responsible for the conduction in the material. The transition temperature (TC) of the compound is found to be at 57 K. From thermomagnetic data, the presence of short-range ferromagnetic correlations is confirmed, which constitutes the Griffiths-like phase in Pr2CrMnO6 up to the Griffiths temperature TG = 144 K.