μSR study of short-range charge order in YNiO3 above the monoclinic–orthorhombic transition

LnNiO3 compounds exhibit charge disproportionation (CD) and electron localization at TCD=TMI. We have investigated possible charge fluctuations above the monoclinic-to-orthorhombic transition in YNiO3. Correlated anomalies were observed in muon relaxation, infrared absorption and transport measurements in a temperature range of more than 100 K above TCD. These results indicate partial glassy freezing of electrons well above the long-range order of disproportionated Ni pairs.