Influence of bismuth on the magnetic & electrical properties of La2MnNiO6

In this study, we report the ambient pressure and low temperature synthesis of ordered perovskite La2−xBixMn1+yNi1−yO6 with high bismuth content. Keeping y=0, we are able to substitute La by Bi up to x=0.4 i.e. 20% of La. However, 50% La could be replaced by Bi for y=0.5 without any impurity phases. Interestingly, these compounds remain ferromagnetic with the Curie temperature TC of 255 and 75 K for La1.6Bi0.4MnNiO6 and LaBiMn1.5Ni0.5O6 compositions, respectively. Moreover, these Bi-substituted phases become more conducting, three order of magnitude higher, at room temperature compared to the parent La2MnNiO6 phase.