Structural and magnetic properties of Sm{sub 2−x}Mn{sub x}O{sub 3} nanoparticles
Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • C-type Sm{sub 2−x}Mn{sub x}O{sub 3} (0.0 ≤ x ≤0.20) is prepared by sol–gel method. • A maximum solubility of x = 0.15 is confirmed by X-ray diffraction, Raman and infrared techniques. • Samples with x > 0.05 exhibit weak ferromagnetic properties; for x ≤ 0.05 antiferromagnetic behaviors is obtained. • Correlation between magnetic behaviors and structural and microstructural parameters is discussed. - Abstract: Mixed oxide Sm{sub 2−x}Mn{sub x}O{sub 3} (SMO), x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20 were synthesized by a sol–gel process. A single phase solid solution is formed up to x = 0.15 which confirmed by using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and infrared techniques. Crystal structure and microstructure analyses were performed by Rietveld refinement. Preferential cationic distribution, over the two crystallographic sites 8b and 24d of space group Ia3{sup ¯}, is found for doped samples but with different extent. The r.m.s. microstrain 〈ε{sub L}{sup 2}〉{sup 1/2} depends on composition x in a systematic way emphasizing the preferential distribution. Magnetization measurements show that samples with x ≤ 0.05 have antiferromagnetic behavior, while samples with x > 0.05 exhibit a weak ferromagnetic behavior with magnetic phase transformation at 15 and 16 K for x = 0.1 and x = 0.15, respectively.