Structural and Magnetic Studies of Nanocrystalline La0.8-xAg0.2BixMnO3(x = 0, 0.05)

We report the exploration of structural and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline La0.8Ag0.2MnO3 and La0.75Ag0.2Bi0.05MnO3 compound, synthesized using the citrate sol-gel method. By analyzing X-ray diffraction data, it has been shown that both the nanocrystalline samples crystallized into a rhombohedral structure ( \(R\overline{3}c\) space group). The average crystallite size was evaluated to be ~41 and 35 nm by employing Williamson–Hall (W–H) method. SEM images reveal that the particles have an average particle size of 137 and 162 nm which are almost uniform in size. The SEM micrographs reveal the homogeneity of the nanocrystalline compound. At 299 K, paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition is observed in nanocrystalline La0.8Ag0.2MnO3 based on the temperature dependence of magnetization measurements. La0.75Ag0.2Bi0.05MnO3 sample shows transition temperature above room temperature which will be beneficial for magnetic refrigeration application.