Structural, electronic structure and magnetic studies of SmFe1−xNixO3 (x ≤ 0.5)

We present the structural, electronic structure and magnetic studies of Ni doped SmFeO3. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies confirm the single phase nature of the samples having orthorhombic Pbnm structure and the unit-cell volume is decreasing with the increase of Ni concentration. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) studies on O K, Fe L3,2, Ni L3,2 and Sm M5,4 edges of SmFe1−xNixO3 (x ≤ 0.5) samples along with the reference compounds revealed the homo-valence state of Fe and Ni in these materials. From magnetization studies it has been observed the materials exhibit ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic sub-lattices, which are strongly dependent on the thermo-magnetic state of the system.