LaSrMnCoO6: a new cubic double perovskite oxide

Single-phase polycrystalline powder samples of the double perovskite oxide LaSrMnCoO₆ were synthesized by the Pechini (citrate-gel) technique. The structural, magnetic and electrical properties of the obtained powders were investigated by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, dc magnetization, ac susceptibility and dc resistivity measurements. The crystal structure of the new compound was found to be cubic of space group at room temperature. Below 225 K, the samples exhibit ferrimagnetic behavior with a spin-glass-like character. Resistivity measurements indicate semiconducting behavior with two different conductivity mechanisms: thermally activated behavior below 190 K and variable range hopping above 190 K.     

Dielectric relaxation in a new double perovskite oxide Ho2MgZrO6

A new double perovskite oxide holmium magnesium zirconate Ho₂MgZrO₆ (HMZ) was prepared by solid state reaction technique. The crystal structure has been determined by powder X-ray diffraction which shows monoclinic phase at room temperature with cell parameters a = 9.3028 ± 0.0030 Å, b = 5.2293 ± 0.0008 Å, c = 4.4009 ± 0.0009 Å, β = 103.3746 ± 0.0166°. An analysis of complex permittivity with frequency was carried out assuming a distribution of relaxation times. The frequency dependent electrical data are analyzed in the framework of conductivity and electric modulus formalisms. At the high temperature range, conductivity data satisfy the variable range hopping (VRH) model. In this regime, the conductivity of sample obeys Mott’s T^1/4 law, characteristic of VRH. High temperature data indicates the formation of thermally activated small polarons. The scaling behaviour of imaginary part of electric modulus suggests that the relaxation describes the same mechanism at various temperatures.     

Structural and magnetic properties of double perovskite oxide Ba2CeSbO6

The structural and magnetic properties of a double perovskite oxide Ba₂CeSbO₆ (BCSO) synthesized by solid state reaction technique have been investigated. The Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction pattern of BCSO suggests the monoclinic crystal structure at room temperature with P2₁/n space group. The vibrational properties of BCSO are investigated by the Fourier transform Infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectrum confirms the B-site ordering of cations in BCSO. The temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility data in the field cooled mode show the anti-ferromagnetic behaviour of BCSO below 59 K. The core level X-ray photoemission (XPS) spectrum of Ce-3d and Sb-3d states confirms the presence of multiple oxidation states of these cations. The presence of both the Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ ions in BCSO gives the 4f^4−δ intermediate valence state which may reduce the effective magnetic moment with respect to the system having single valence Ce³⁺ ion.     

Dielectric properties of rare earth double perovskite oxide Sr2CeSbO6

A polycrystalline rare earth double perovskite oxide, strontium cerium antimonate, Sr₂CeSbO₆ (SCS), is synthesized by solid-state reaction technique. The X-ray diffraction pattern at room temperature of SCS shows orthorhombic phase with the lattice parameters, a = 8.84 Å, b = 6.22 Å, and c = 5.83 Å. Fourier transform infrared spectrum shows two phonon modes of the sample at around 550 cm^?1 and 670 cm^?1 due to the antisymmetric SbO₆ stretching vibration. The compound shows significant frequency dispersion in its dielectric properties. The complex impedance plane plots show that the relaxation (conduction) mechanism in SCS is purely a bulk effect arising from the semiconductive grains having the grain resistance = 3.8 × 10⁶ Ω and the grain capacitance = 1.03 × 10^?10 F at 603 K. The frequency-dependent conductivity spectra follow the universal power law. The conductivity at 100 Hz varies from 2 × 10^?7 Sm^?1 to 1.97 × 10^?5 Sm^?1 with the increase of temperature from 303 K to 703 K, respectively. The relaxation mechanism of the sample in the framework of electric modulus formalism is modelled by Davidson–Cole equation. The activation energy of the sample, calculated from both conductivity and modulus spectra is found to be ～0.15 eV. Such a value of activation energy indicates that the conduction mechanism for SCS is due to electron hopping. The scaling behaviour of imaginary electric modulus suggests that the relaxation describes the same mechanism at various temperatures.     

Electronic energy band structure of the double perovskite Ba2MnWO6

The electronic and magnetic structures of the double perovskite oxide Ba 2MnWO6 (BMW) were determined by employing the density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) + U approach. BMW is considered a prototype double perovskite due to its high degree of B-site ordering and is a good case study for making a comparison between computations and experiments. By adjusting the U-parameter, the electronic energy band structure and magnetic properties, which were consistent with the experimental results, were obtained. These computations revealed that the valence bands are mainly formed from Mn 3d and O 2p states, while the conduction bands are derived from W 5d and O 2p states. The localized bands composed from Mn 3d states are located in the bandgap. The results imply that the formation of polarons in the conduction band initiate the resonance Raman modes observed as a series of equidistant peaks.     

Dielectric and impedance studies on the double perovskite Ba2BiTaO6

High temperature dielectric measurement on rhombohedral Ba₂BiTaO₆ shows an anomaly at 250 °C where there is a structural transition from the room temperature rhombohedral (R-3) to high temperature cubic (Fm-3m) phase as inferred from the high temperature X-ray diffraction data. Impedance spectroscopic study reveals that the contribution to the electrical response comes from grain as well as from grain boundary. Grain boundary capacitance does not show significant temperature dependence whereas grain capacitance increases with increasing temperature. Both of these conduction processes are similar in nature as indicated from the close value of activation energies as derived from the Arrhenius plot.     

Large ferroelectric polarization in the new double perovskite NaLaMnWO6 induced by non-polar instabilities

Based on density functional theory calculations and group theoretical analysis, we have studied NaLaMnWO(6) compound which has been recently synthesized [G. King, A. Wills and P. M. Woodward, Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter, 2009, 79, 224428] and belongs to the AA'BB'O(6) family of double perovskites. At low temperature, the structure has monoclinic P2(1) symmetry, with layered ordering of the Na and La ions and rocksalt ordering of Mn and W ions. The Mn atoms show an antiferromagnetic collinear spin ordering, and the compound has been reported as a potential multiferroic. By comparing the low symmetry structure with a parent phase of P4/nmm symmetry, two distortion modes are found dominant. They correspond to MnO(6) and WO(6) octahedron tilt modes, often found in many simple perovskites. While in the latter these common tilting instabilities yield non-polar phases, in NaLaMnWO(6) the additional presence of the A-A' cation ordering is sufficient to make these rigid unit modes a source of the ferroelectricity. Through a trilinear coupling with the two unstable tilting modes, a polar distortion is induced, although the system has no intrinsic polar instability. The calculated electric polarization resulting from this polar distortion is as large as ～16 μC cm(-2). Despite its secondary character, this polarization is coupled with the dominant tilting modes and its switching is bound to produce the switching of one of two tilts, enhancing in this way a possible interaction with the magnetic ordering. The transformation of common non-polar purely steric instabilities into sources of ferroelectricity through a controlled modification of the parent structure, as done here by the cation ordering, is a phenomenon to be further explored.     

Synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of Sr2NiOsO6 and Ca2NiOsO6: two new osmium-containing double perovskites

Two new double perovskite oxides, Ca(2)NiOsO(6) and Sr(2)NiOsO(6), have been prepared as polycrystalline powders by solid state synthesis. The two oxides were structurally characterized by variable-temperature powder neutron diffraction. Ca(2)NiOsO(6) was found to adopt a monoclinic structure (P2(1)/n), while Sr(2)NiOsO(6) was found to be tetragonal (I4/m). Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that Ca(2)NiOsO(6) orders in a canted antiferromagnetic state at about 175 K while Sr(2)NiOsO(6) orders antiferromagnetically at about 50 K.     

A new type of antiferrodistortive structure in a double perovskite with Pb

We have found a new structural transition in Pb(2)MnReO(6) at 410 K. Above this temperature, Pb(2)MnReO(6) is cubic with disordered and dynamic atomic displacements manifested in the large thermal parameters of Pb and O atoms. Below 410 K, the antiferrodistortive shift of 2/3 of Pb(2+) cations away from the high-symmetry cubic site produces a new type of monoclinic cell. The unit cell expands at the transition and the heat capacity shows a peak with thermal hysteresis. These features agree with a first order transition. The entropy content of the transition is quite low indicating that the structural disorder has not been completely removed in the low temperature phase. The monoclinic phase of Pb(2)MnReO(6) shows thermally activated conductivity which does not vary when an external magnetic field is applied. A change in the slope of the resistivity curve, observed at the structural phase transition temperature, is related to a slight difference in the activation energy between both phases. It suggests that the condensation of the distortions likely affects the conduction mechanism. The isothermal magnetization measurements reveal the presence of ferromagnetic contributions below 85 K. The ac magnetic susceptibility shows a dynamic peak at 50 K and, in addition, zero-field-cooled and field-cooled magnetization curves diverge strongly below 80 K. These features might be signature of magnetic inhomogeneity. Magnetic loops, obtained at 5 K, do not show saturation in fields up to 9 T. Furthermore, the measured coercivity increases sharply at low temperature indicating an abrupt change in the magnetic anisotropy. We show that all these magnetic properties point out to a ferrimagnetic ordering of Mn and Re atoms in an intermediate valence state.     

Crystal and magnetic structure of the double perovskite Sr2CoUO6: a neutron diffraction study

Sr2CoUO6 double perovskite has been prepared as a polycrystalline powder by solid-state reaction, in air. This material has been studied by X-ray, neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and magnetic measurements. At room temperature, the crystal structure is monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, Z= 2, with a= 5.7916(2), b= 5.8034(2), c= 8.1790(3) A, beta= 90.1455(6)degrees. The perovskite lattice consists of a completely ordered array of CoO6 and UO6 octahedra, which exhibit an average tilting angle phi= 11.4 degrees. Magnetic and neutron diffraction measurements indicate an antiferromagnetic ordering below TN = 10 K. The low-temperature magnetic structure was determined by NPD, selected among the possible magnetic solutions compatible with the P2(1)/n space group, according with the group theory representation. The propagation vector is k= 0. A canted antiferromagnetic structure is observed below TN = 10 K, which remains stable down to 3 K, with an ordered magnetic moment of 2.44(7)mu(B) for Co2+ cations. The magnetic moment calculated from the Curie-Weiss law at high temperatures (5.22 mu(B)/f.u.) indicates that the orbital contribution is unquenched at high temperatures, which is consistent with high-spin Co2+((4)T(1g) ground state) in a quasi-regular octahedral environment. Magnetic and structural features are consistent with an electronic configuration Co2+[3d(7)]-U6+[Rn].     

A new layered perovskite,KSrNb2O6F,by powder neutron diffraction

The structure of a new layered oxyfluoride, viz. potassium strontium diniobium hexaoxide fluoride, KSrNb₂O₆F, was refined from powder neutron diffraction data in the orthorhombic space group Immm. The oxyfluoride compound is an n = 2 member of the Dion–Jacobson‐type family of general formula A[A′_n−1B_nX_3n+1], which consists of double layered perovskite slabs, [SrNb₂O₆F]⁻, between which K⁺ ions are located. Within the perovskite slabs, the NbO₅F octahedra are significantly distorted and tilted about the a axis. A bond‐valence‐sum calculation gives evidence for O/F ordering in KSrNb₂O₆F, with the F⁻ ions located in the central sites of the corner‐sharing NbO₅F octahedra along the b axis. All atoms lie on special positions, namely Nb on m, Sr on mmm, K on m2m, F on mm2, and O on sites of symmetry m and m2m.     

La doping of the Sr2CoWO6 double perovskite: A structural and magnetic study

La-doped Sr₂CoWO₆ double perovskites have been prepared in air in polycrystalline form by solid-state reaction. These materials have been studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and magnetic susceptibility. The structural refinement was performed from combined XRPD and NPD data (D2B instrument, λ=1.594 Å). At room temperature, the replacement of Sr²⁺ by La³⁺ induces a change of the tetragonal structure, space group I4/m of the undoped Sr₂CoWO₆ into the distorted monoclinic crystal structure, space group P2₁/n, Z=2. The structure of La-doped phases contains alternating CoO₆ and (Co/W)O₆ octahedra, almost fully ordered. On the other hand, the replacement of Sr²⁺ by La³⁺ induces a partial replacement of W⁶⁺ by Co²⁺ into the B sites, i.e. Sr_2−xLa_xCoW_1−yCo_yO₆ (y=x/4) with segregation of SrWO₄. Magnetic and neutron diffraction measurements indicate an antiferromagnetic ordering below T_N=24 K independently of the La-substitution.     

过渡金属掺杂的双钙钛矿Ba2InNbO6的光催化分解水性能研究

双钙钛矿材料由于其丰富的化学组成及晶体结构被认为是一类优良的光催化材料,但大多数双钙钛矿氧化物仅表现出紫外光催化活性。因此,本文通过过渡金属离子Fe、Cr、Ni等掺杂调控双钙钛矿化合物Ba2InNbO6的能带结构,期望实现高效的可见光催化活性,并研究掺杂元素对晶体结构、微观形貌、表面状态等物化性质的影响。结果表明,过渡金属能够成功地引入到双钙钛矿的Ba2InNbO6的In位点,并能拓宽材料的可见光吸收范围。此外,过渡金属引入晶胞发生收缩,颗粒尺寸增大,表面亲水性也得到了极大的改善。与Ba2InNbO6相比,过渡金属掺杂的样品光催化析氢活性得到了极大的改善。其中,Ba2In0.9Fe0.1NbO6在全范围照射(λ≥250 nm)下的析氢量最高,达到了15.8μmol,并且在可见光(λ≥420 nm)照射下的析氢速率为2.71μmol/h,其对应的表观量子效率为0.016%。     

Influence of the B-site cation nature on dielectric properties of Ca2XBiO6 (X = Dy, Fe, Al) double perovskite

For the synthesis of Ca₂XBiO₆ (X = Dy, Fe, Al) metal oxides with ordered double-perovskite structure, the sol-gel auto-combustion method has been used for the first time. The synthesis progress was followed by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the samples structure was investigated by X-ray diffraction. The samples morphology was studied by means of scanning electron microscopy. The influence of the nature of the trivalent B-site cation on the dielectric properties was evaluated by resistivity measurements in vacuum at frequencies between 10²–10⁵ Hz. The best dielectric behavior was obtained for Ca₂AlBiO₆ and Ca₂DyBiO₆, while the best semiconductor behavior was found for Ca₂FeBiO₆.     

Non-collinear magnetic structure of the Sr2ErRuO6 double perovskite

The crystal and magnetic structure of Sr₂ErRuO₆ has been studied by means of neutron powder diffraction as well as magnetization and susceptibility measurements. Neutron diffraction profile measured at 50 K shows that the Ru⁵⁺ and Er³⁺ are ordered in the B-sites of the perovskite-type structure, while the Sr atoms occupy the A-site. This compound crystallizes with a monoclinic unit cell, space group P2₁/n and lattice parameters are approximately √2a_p × √2a_p × 2a_p. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal the existence of antiferromagnetic interactions in which Ru⁵⁺ and Er³⁺ sublattices are involved. The field dependence of the magnetization indicates the presence of a weak ferromagnetic component at the transition temperature, arising from the spin canting of the antiferromagnetically ordered Ru⁵⁺ and Er³⁺ moments. Thermal evolution of the neutron diffraction patterns indicate that the Nèel temperature is 36 K and the magnetic reflections can be indexed on the basis of a propagation vector k = [0, 0, 0]. The spin arrangement is described by the AxAz magnetic modes where the Ru⁵⁺ and Er³⁺ moments are mainly aligned along the c-axis of the structure, forming an angle of 6° with the c-axis in the case of the Er³⁺ sublattice and 15° for the Ru⁵⁺ moment.     

Reversible oxygen removal and uptake in the La2ZnMnO6 double perovskite: Performance in symmetrical SOFC cells

A polycrystalline oxygen-stoichiometric La₂ZnMnO₆ double-perovskite oxide has been prepared by soft-chemistry procedures, followed by annealing in air at 800 °C. A reduced specimen, with a La₂ZnMnO_6−δ composition, has been obtained by topotactical oxygen removal in an H₂/N₂ (5%/95%) flow at 600 °C. The structural characterization has been conducted from neutron powder diffraction (NPD) data, very sensitive to the contrast between Zn and Mn and the oxygen stoichiometry. Both perovskites (oxidized and reduced) crystallize in the monoclinic P2₁/n space group, exhibiting an antisite Zn/Mn disorder of about 15% and 14%, respectively. The partial reduction of Mn⁴⁺ to Mn³⁺ in the reduced phase is accompanied with the occurrence of oxygen vacancies, located at the axial octahedral sites. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) substantiates the oxygen stoichiometry and the stability range. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate an antiferromagnetic behaviour, confirming the presence of Mn³⁺ ions in the structure. The magnetic structure of the reduced phase, determined from NPD data at 3 K, shows an antiferromagnetic G-type coupling between Mn at 2c and 2d sites (promoted by the anti-site disorder); the ordered magnetic moment at Mn site is 0.789 μ_B at 3 K. Both phases display a semiconductor-like behaviour with a maximum conductivity of 0.052 S cm⁻¹ for the reduced phase at 650 °C, due to the occurrence of Mn³⁺–Mn⁴⁺ mixed valence. Moreover, the measured thermal expansion coefficients perfectly match with the values usually displayed by SOFC electrolytes. The reversibility and versatility of the present compounds as catalysts for oxygen reduction (cathode) or fuel oxidation (anode) were tested in single SOFC cells yielding power density spanning from 120 to 155 W/cm² using these perovskites as anode, cathode and symmetric electrodes for SOFC.     

Excellent red phosphors of double perovskite Ca2LaMO6:Eu (M=Sb, Nb, Ta) with distorted coordination environment

Double perovskite Ca₂LaSbO₆, successfully synthesized by solid state reaction method, was identified by Rietveld refinements to crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n, which is isostructural to Ca₂LaMO₆ (M=Nb, Ta). Excellent red luminescence of Eu-doped Ca₂LaMO₆ (M=Sb, Nb, Ta) can be obtained and no luminescence quenching effect was observed when Eu-doping level reached 40%. For Ca₂La_0.6NbO₆:0.4Eu³⁺, quantum efficiencies of 20.9% and 27.7% were reached to show high light conversion and bright red emission excited at 465 nm (blue light) and 534 nm (green light), respectively, comparable to the commercial phosphors. Through systemic investigation for the series of double perovskite compounds, the excellent red emission in Ca₂LaMO₆ is attributed to highly distorted polyhedra of EuO₈ (low tolerance factor of the pervoskite), and large bond distances of La−O (low crystal field effect of the activator).     

Crystallographic and magnetic properties of CaLaMnMoO6 double perovskite

Powder neutron diffraction studies show that CaLaMnMoO₆ double perovskite crystallizes in monoclinic P2₁/n, with a=5.56961(9), b=5.71514(9), and β=90.043(1)°. Mn and Mo occupy the 2c and 2d positions, respectively, with 6.0(4)% Mn/Mo anti-site mixing. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that CaLaMnMoO₆ is ferrimagnetic, with T_N=92(3) K, below which large magnetic frustration is detected. The zero-field magnetic moment measured at 5 K is about 1.2 μ_B, comparable to that of ALaMnMoO₆ (A=Ba and Sr), but much lower than expected for antiparallel ordering of formally Mn²⁺ (d⁵) and Mo⁵⁺ (d¹). Moreover, no long-range magnetic ordering is observed in neutron diffraction data down to 4 K. The magnetic frustration is discussed in the framework of nearest-neighbors next-nearest-neighbors magnetic frustration.     

On the space group of the double perovskite Ba2PrIrO6

The structure of the double perovskite Ba₂PrIrO₆ has been re-examined by profile analysis of X-ray diffraction data. It has been shown that neither the monoclinic P2₁/n nor the tetragonal P4/mnc space group correctly describes its structure. Ba₂PrIrO₆ has cubic symmetry, space group , cell parameter . In agreement with earlier observations, Ba₂PrIrO₆ is an ordered perovskite containing the valence pair Pr(IV)/Ir(IV).