La 2 MnVO 6 double perovskite: a structural, magnetic and X-ray absorption investigation †

The synthesis, electron diffraction (ED), synchrotron X-ray and neutron structure, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and magnetic property studies of La 2 MnVO 6 double perovskite are described. Analysis of the synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data for La 2 MnVO 6 indicates a disordered arrangement of Mn and V at the B-site of the perovskite structure. Absence of super-lattice reflections in the ED patterns for La 2 MnVO 6 supports the disordered cation arrangement. Room temperature time-of-flight (TOF) neutron powder diffraction (NPD) data show no evidence of cation ordering, in corroboration with the ED and synchrotron studies (orthorhombic Pnma ). , a ¼ 5.6097(3), b ¼ 7.8837(5) and c ¼