Magnetic structure and cation distribution studies of Ni-Zn niobates

New materials with coupled electric and magnetic properties have become one of the main areas of research in materials science, as they have promising applications in advanced devices. In our research, we are focusing on Ni4Nb2O9, an unusual member of a well-studied family of magnetic materials. To tune its magnetic properties, we replaced magnetic Ni by non-magnetic Zn, studying the structural changes and their connection to physical properties. Neutron diffraction can offer explanations for the evolution of these properties with composition and temperature, particularly those related to the magnetic behaviour of the materials. We will follow the evolution of the magnetic moments of cations in the samples to understand their interaction in different positions in the crystal structure.