Size Dependence of Electrical Properties of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 Nanoparticles

La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 nanoparticles with various particle sizes were prepared using the microwave irradiation technique. The structural and electrical properties of the samples were investigated by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and four-probe electrical resistivity techniques. The XRD result coupled with the Rietveld refinement method exhibited that all samples crystallized in a rhombohedral structure with a space group of R-3C, which indicated the formation of the perovskite structure of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3. Size dependence of the electrical properties of the La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 nanoparticles at low temperature was also detected by fitting the experimental data with the theoretical models.