ABSTRACT
The origin of dielectric anomalies and magnetodielectric response of La(2)MnCoO(6) has been investigated by means of ultra-high resolution synchrotron x-ray powder diffraction, neutron powder diffraction, resistivity, magnetization and dielectric measurements. The study has been performed on two different bulk samples presenting different degrees of Mn/Co order: 95 and 74%. Beside the well-known influence on magnetic properties, our results show that the main effect of disorder lies on the electrical resistivity. Bond distances clearly show Mn(4+)/Co(2+) valence states in the well-ordered sample, while for the disordered one this picture still holds. AC resistivity data show dielectric anomalies and a small magnetodielectric effect, but impedance complex plane analyses prove that these phenomena appear at the frequency-temperature region where extrinsic effects dominate the dielectric response.
