Novel combustion synthesis of La3+-substituted MnFe2O4

La3+-substituted MnFe2O4 compounds have been prepared by using a novel combustion synthesis method. This process was found to yield homogeneous, finely crystalline powders without intermediate decomposition and/or calcination steps. Combustion-synthesized powders were sintered at 1000°C, and structural features of thus prepared materials were characterized by XRD analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy. The dc electrical conductivity of synthesized materials has been measured as a function of temperature up to 1000°C. The materials have shown semiconducting behavior at elevated temperatures. The ac electrical conductivity of synthesized samples was found to increase with increasing applied frequency. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent have also been characterized.