Thermoelectric power studies of erbium substituted Mn-Zn ferrites

Thermoelectric power studies of erbium substituted Mn-Zn ferrites of variou s compositions were investigated from room temperature to well beyond the C urie temperature by the differential method. The Seebeck coefficient is neg ative for all the compositions showing that these ferrites behave as n-type semiconductors. The Values of the charge carrier concentration have been c omputed from the observed values of the Seebeck coefficient. The temperatur e variation of the Seebeck coefficient and carrier concentration is also di scussed. On the basis of these results an explanation for the conduction me chanism in Mn-Zn-Er mixed ferrites is suggested. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.