Structural and magnetic properties of NiCr1.9Mn0.1O4

Abstract

Polycrystalline NiCr1.9Mn0.1O4 within nanoscale has been synthesized by sol–gel method. X-ray diffraction results prove pure formation of the sample without any other impurities. Characterizations of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray fluorescence reveal the good crystallinity and desired element ratio of the phase. Magnetic hysteresis loop measured at 10 K after cooling the sample in applied field of 30 kOe shows asymmetry both in the field and magnetization axes with a bias field about 3316.5 Oe and a magnetization shift about 0.381 emu/g. This exchange bias (EB) behavior has also been studied as the function of measuring temperature and applied cooling field. The values of EB field and magnetization shift are found to depend strongly on temperature as well as the cooling field. The accompanying training effect is also observed in the sample. Irreversibility in temperature dependence of magnetization at different applied fields indicates the presence of spin-glass-like (SGL) phase. High field relaxation measurement confirms the existence of SGL state. The results suggest that different formation of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic sublattice orders with spin frustration due to the doping of Mn cations in the sample leads to these interesting magnetic properties.