Functional properties of Sm2NiMnO6 multiferroic ceramics prepared by spark plasma sintering

•The Sm2NiMnO6 double perovskite were prepared by sol–gel auto-combustion method.•The Rietveld and HRTEM analysis confirm a double perovskite monoclinic structure.•The non-linear character reveals a strong nonlinearity.•The magnetic transitions indicate a change in the spin ordering.•The Sm2NiMnO6 system is a promising multiferroic candidate to modern applications.

In the present work, it was reported for the first time the new synthesis of Sm2NiMnO6 double perovskite oxides by sol–gel auto-combustion method. The Rietveld analysis of the X-ray ceramics diffraction pattern recorded at room temperature for Sm2NiMnO6 ceramics sintered at 1000 °C/5 min from powders obtained at 700 °C/7 h confirm the formation of the double perovskite with a monoclinic structure and the space group P21/n. The HRTEM analysis shows clear lattice fringes that confirm a high crystallinity level of the material corresponding to the monoclinic structure. The non-linear dielectric character was checked for the first time in Sm2NiMnO6 double perovskite and the results reveals a strong nonlinearity and a small hysteretic behaviour. The present structural, magnetic and dielectric data make the Sm2NiMnO6 system due to its multiferroic character a promising candidate to different modern electronic devices applications.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide