Structure and physical properties of nickel manganite NiMn2O4 obtained from nickel permanganate precursor

In this paper we present the structural, magnetic and dielectric properties of ceramic nickel manganite NiMn2O4+delta produced by using nickel permanganate Ni(MnO4)(2)xH(2)O as a precursor. We have characterized the NiMn2O4+delta stoichiometry using quantitative energy-dispersive analysis of X-rays and thermal gravimetry under reducing conditions. Increased oxygen and Mn4+ contents were detected. X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement of X-ray data were carried out. Temperature dependent magnetization measurements were performed and the fern-magnetic transition was identified at approximate to 100 K. The fern-magnetic moment was found to be approximate to 1 mu(B) and hysteretic magnetization vs applied field curves were obtained. Dielectric properties were measured using impedance spectroscopy. Two dielectric relaxation processes were detected, which were associated with grain boundary and bulk contributions. The Arrhenius plots of resistivity and the temperature dependent dielectric permittivity were obtained for the two relaxations by means of an equivalent circuit model based on a series of two parallel RC elements. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.