Abstract
Structure studies on multiferroic YMnO3 particles with size varying between 467 ± 42 nm (bulk) and 28 ± 3 nm was carried out using high-energy synchrotron x-ray diffraction. Analysis of the diffraction data reveals that when the particles size decreases to about 121 nm an iso-structural phase transition takes place. The transition is accompanied by a substantial change in the unit cell volume and the ratio (c/a) of the parameters of the hexagonal lattice of YMnO3. The phase transition is similar to the one reported in bulk YMnO3 heated to temperatures of about 920 K. In this letter, we argue that the phase transition in nanosized YMnO 3 is of an order-disorder type.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 061909 |
Journal | Applied Physics Letters |
Volume | 102 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 11 2013 |