On the structural and magnetic properties of the double perovskite Nd 2NiMnO 6

Abstract

The structural, electronic and magnetic properties of phase pure and stoichiometric samples of the double perovskite Nd 2NiMnO 6 have been investigated with a combination of X-ray and neutron diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and magnetometry. It is found that the monoclinic space group P2 1/ n best describes the crystal structure of Nd 2NiMnO 6. Photoectron spectroscopy revels a mixed valence of the transition metal sites where Ni has 3+/2+ oxidation states and Mn has 3+/4+. The compound orders ferromagnetically at ∼195 K. The magnetic structure was determined from the refinement of the neutron diffraction data. The results suggests that the B-site magnetic moments align along the crystallographic a-direction.