Thermoelectric power of HoBaCo2O5.5: possible evidence of the spin blockade in cobaltites.

Thermoelectric power measurements have been performed for an ordered oxygen-deficient perovskite, HoBaCo2O5.5, in which the alternative layers of CoO6 octahedra and of CoO(5) bipyramids are occupied by Co3+ species. The T-dependent Seebeck coefficient S shows a clear change of the conduction regime at the metal-insulator (MI) transition (T(MI) approximately 285 K). The sign change of S from S<0 to S>0 can be explained assuming that a spin state transition occurs at T(MI). In the metallic state, Co2+ e(g) electrons are moving in a broad band on the background of high or intermediate spin Co3+ species. In contrast, the insulating behavior may result from the Co3+ spin state transition to a low-spin Co3+ occurring in the octahedra. In this phase the transport would occur by hopping of the low-spin Co(4+)t(2g) holes, whereas the high-spin Co2+ electrons become immobilized due to a spin blockade.