Conventional synthesis and characterization of cubically ordered La2FeMnO6 double perovskite compound

Abstract

The cubically ordered double perovskite compound, La2FeMnO6, has been synthesized using high temperature solid-state reaction method. Rietveld refinement of powder X-ray diffraction data indicates the formation of La2FeMnO6 compound, having cubic structure with space group Pm-3m. It is also inferred that the LaFeO3 perovskite structure accommodates the Mn3+ ions to stabilize the double perovskite La2FeMnO6 structure. The scanning electron micrograph reveals the uniform distribution of crystallites without any segregation. Energy dispersive spectra confirms the presence of La, Fe, Mn and O elements in the prepared compound. The existence of higher order Raman active vibrational modes confirms the phase purity of the prepared sample, where higher-order phonon modes may be related to the strong spin-lattice coupling arising from the interaction between the adjacent magnetic sublattices. The magnetic exchange interactions between transition metal ions influences the anti-ferromagnetic ordering (AFM) existing in the La2FeMnO6 compound. The magnetization measurement confirms the dominant exchange interactions between Fe3+ and Mn3+ ions in the material which provides a complex environment for the competition between ferri-magnetism (FIM) and AFM interactions. Hence, a phase pure double perovskite La2FeMnO6 compound prepared at high temperature is characterized for its structural, optical and magnetic properties.