Electrical transport and magnetic properties of Nd2(WO4)3

Measurements of the molar magnetic susceptibility (X_m) of a powdered sample of Nd₂(WO₄)₃ in the temperature range 300–900 K, and the electrical conductivity (σ) and dielectric constant (?$\text{)}\text{?}$ of pressed pellets of the compound in the temperature range 4.2–1180 K are reported. X_m obeys the Curie-Weiss law with a Curie constant C= 3.13 K/mole, a paramagnetic Curie temperature θ= ?60 K and a moment of Bohr magnetons, p= 3.49 for the Nd³⁺ ion. The electrical conductivity data can be explained in terms of the usual band model and impurity levels. Both the σ and ?$\text{\$}\text{?}$data indicate some sort of phase transition round 1025 K. The conductivity follows Mott's law $\text{σ = A exp (?B/T}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>4</mtext>}}\text{)}$ in the temperature range $\text{200 < T < 3000}\text{K with}\text{B = 45.00 (}\text{K}\text{)}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>4</mtext>}}\text{and}\text{A = 1.38 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?5}}\text{Ω}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{cm}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$. The dielectric constant increases slowly up to 600 K, as is usual for ionic solids. The increase becomes much faster above 600 K, which is attributed to space-charge polarization of thermally generated charge carriers.