Synthesis and characterization of La1+xSr2−xCoMnO7−δ (x=0,0.2; δ=0,1)

The n=2 Ruddlesden-Popper phases LaSr₂CoMnO₇ and La_1.2Sr_1.8CoMnO₇ have been synthesized by a sol-gel method. The O6-type phases LaSr₂CoMnO₆ and La_1.2Sr_1.8CoMnO₆ were produced by reduction of the O7 phases under a hydrogen atmosphere. The materials crystallize in the tetragonal I4/mmm space group with no evidence of long-range cation order in the neutron and electron diffraction data. Oxygen vacancies in the reduced materials are located primarily at the common apex of the double perovskite layers giving rise to square pyramidal coordination around cobalt and manganese ions. The oxidation states Co³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ and Co²⁺/Mn³⁺ predominate in the as-prepared and reduced materials, respectively. The materials are spin glasses at low temperature and the dominant magnetic interactions change from ferro- to antiferromagnetic following reduction.     

Local crystal chemistry, induced strain and short range order in the cubic pyrochlore (Bi1.5−αZn0.5−β)(Zn0.5−γNb1.5−δ)O(7−1.5α−β−γ−2.5δ) (BZN)

Clear evidence (in the form of structured diffuse scattering) is found for short range ordering of metal ions and associated induced structural relaxation in two members of the cubic BZN pyrochlore (Bi_1.5−αZn_0.5−β)(Zn_0.5−γNb_1.5−δ)O_{(7−1.5α−β−γ−2.5δ)} solid solution. An average neutron powder diffraction structure refinement is carried out for one of these. Electron probe micro-analysis suggests that the primary mechanism for non-stoichiometry in cubic BZN is the removal of ZnO from the nominally fully occupied (Bi_1.5Zn_0.5)(Zn_0.5Nb_1.5)O₇ end-member. A detailed bond valence sum analysis of a recently reported average crystal structure is used to suggest possible local cation ordering schemes along with the induced displacive relaxation that is likely to accompany such local cation ordering. The observed diffuse distribution is qualitatively interpreted via Monte Carlo modelling.     

Structure, bonding, and magnetic response in two complex borides: Zr2Fe1−δRu5+δB2 and Zr2Fe1−δ(Ru1−xRhx)5+δB2

Polycrystalline samples of two complex intermetallic borides Zr₂Fe_1−δRu_5+δB₂ and Zr₂Fe_1−δ(Ru_1−xRh_x)_5+δB₂ (δ=ca. 0.10; x=0.20) were synthesized by high-temperature methods and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and magnetization measurements. Both structures are variants of Sc₂Fe(Ru_1−xRh_x)₅B₂ and crystallize in the space group P4/mbm (no. 127) with the Ti₃Co₅B₂-type structure. These structures contain single-atom, Fe-rich Fe/Ru or Fe/Ru/Rh chains along the c-axis with an interatomic metal-metal distance of 3.078(1) Å, a feature which makes them viable for possible low-dimensional temperature-dependent magnetic behavior. Magnetization measurements indicated weak ferrimagnetic ordering with ordering temperatures ca. 230 K for both specimens. Tight-binding electronic structure calculations on a model “Zr₂FeRu₅B₂” using LDA yielded a narrow peak at the Fermi level assigned to Fe-Fe antibonding interactions along the c-axis, a result that indicates an electronic instability toward ferromagnetic coupling along these chains. Spin-polarized calculations of various magnetic models were examined to identify possible magnetic ordering within and between the single-atom, Fe-rich chains.     

Phase stability of La1−xCaxCrO3−δ in oxidizing atmosphere

The chemical stability of perovskite-type La_1−xCa_xCrO_3−δ (x=0.1, 0.2, 0.3) in high oxygen partial pressure, P_O2, was investigated with three methods: thermogravimetry, XRD analysis, and thermodynamic calculation. The second phase, CaCrO₄ was observed by XRD analysis on the powder equilibrated in high P_O2. Thermogravimetry under fixed temperatures sensitively detected the segregation of the second phase in the form of oxygen incorporation, because oxidation of chromium ion accompanies the segregation. The second phase tended to appear in high P_O2 and at low temperature. The single-phase regions of La_1−xCa_xCrO_3−δ obtained from the two experimental methods well agreed with each other. The results of thermodynamic calculation on the assumption of ideality of the solid solution also agreed with the experimental results. These results suggested the sufficient chemical stability of La_1−xCa_xCrO_3−δ in high P_O2 concerning the application to an interconnector of high-temperature solid oxide fuel cells; for example, La_0.7Ca_0.3CrO_3−δ is stable at 1273 K in air.     

Conductivity and carrier traps in La1−xSrxCo1−zMnzO3−δ (x=0.3; z=0 and 0.25)

Measurements of the equilibrium oxygen content, electrical conductivity and thermopower in the perovskite-like solid solution La_0.7Sr_0.3Co_1-zMn_zO_3−δ (z=0 and 0.25) as a function of the temperature and oxygen partial pressure are used to determine the temperature dependence of the conductivity and thermopower at different values of the oxygen deficiency. A model for a hopping conductor with screened charge disproportionation is applied for the data analysis in combination with trapping reactions of n- and p-type carriers on local oxygen vacancy clusters and manganese cations, respectively. Changes in the ratio of n-type to p-type mobility are due to variations in oxygen vacancy concentration and manganese content, while the energetic parameters governing charge disproportionation of the trivalent cobalt cations and formation of vacancy associates are shown to be essentially invariable. These calculated charge carrier site occupancies are used to model temperature variations of the electrical properties in La_0.7Sr_0.3Co_1−zMn_zO_3−δ in favorable correspondence with experimental observations.     

Thermodynamic evidence for phase transition in MoO2−δ

The standard Gibbs free energy of formation of MoO_2−δ, Δ_fG^°(MoO_2−δ), has been measured over a wide temperature range (925 to 1925) K using an advanced version of bi-electrolyte solid-state electrochemical cell incorporating a buffer electrode:

Pt∣Mo + MoO_2−δ∥(Y₂O₃)ThO₂∥(CaO)ZrO₂∥O₂(0.1 MPa)∣Pt     

Influence of Oxygen Nonstoichiometry on the Spectral Properties of Solid Solutions LaNb2−2xTa2xVO9−δ (x=0-0.4) and LaTa2−2xNb2xVO9−δ (x=0-0.1)

Phase equilibria in the LaVO₄-Nb₂O₅-Ta₂O₅ system were analyzed. New solid solutions LaTa_2−2xNb_2xVO_9−δ (x=0-0.1) and LaNb_2−2xTa_2xVO_9−δ (x=0-0.4) were detected in this system. The structures of the vanadate-niobate LaNb₂VO₉ and vanadate-tantalate LaTa₂VO₉ are not known. The structures of the vanadate-tantalate LaTa₂VO₉ and LaTa₂VO₉-based solid solutions are similar to the structure of LaTa₇O₁₉, which refers to the hexagonal crystal system. The influence of the oxygen nonstoichiometry δ(x) on crystallochemical characteristics and spectral properties of these solid solutions were examined by the X-ray phase analysis, IR and radio spectroscopic methods. A correlation between the nonstoichiometry δ(x) and the volume of a unit cell V(x) of solid solutions LaTa_2−2xNb_2xVO_9−δ was found. The IR spectrum of LaTa₂VO_9−δ transformed in going from δ=0 to δ≠0. Two types of VO₄ tetrahedra were formed in solid solutions LaNb_2−2xTa_2xVO_9−δ depending on δ(x).     

Electron/hole and ion transport in La1−xSrxFeO3−δ

The conductivity of the entire solid solution La_1−xSr_xFeO_3−δ, where x=0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9, in the oxygen partial pressure range 10⁻¹⁹-0.5 atm and temperatures between 750°C and 950°C is reported. The partial contributions from different charge carriers and the energetic parameters governing transport of charged species reveal that the lanthanum-strontium ferrites can be characterized as mixed, ion-electron conductors in the low oxygen pressure/high oxygen deficiency limit. The partial contributions to conductivity from oxygen ions, electrons and holes increase with strontium content and attain maximal values at x=0.5. Further increase in doping results in development of oxygen vacancy ordering phenomena and deterioration of conducting properties.     

The defect chemistry of La1−ΔMnO3+δ

The effects of oxygen reduction treatments on the magnetic properties of La-deficient manganites, La_1−ΔMnO_3+δ and Sr- and Ca-doped manganites, La_1−xM_xMnO_3+δ (M: Sr, Ca) have been investigated to confirm the contrasting oxygen reduction effects on the magnetization properties. It is found that oxygen reduction treatments in reduced oxygen pressures of 10³- for La_1−ΔMnO_3+δ result in a continuous change in the magnetization but the reduction treatments for La_1−xM_xMnO_3+δ result in a negligible change under the same reduction conditions. To interpret the contrasting behavior of the La-deficient manganites, several possible models have been discussed. Among the models, the most probable model is that vacancies generated by the La deficiency Δ are partially replaced by Δ₂(=Δ−Δ₁?Δ₁) Mn ions to give both La and Mn site vacancies according to the formula La_1−ΔV_ΔMnO_3+δ→{La_1−ΔMn_Δ2V_Δ1}{Mn_1−Δ2V_Δ2}O_3+δ. Details of thermodynamic basis of this model have been presented.     

Effects of temperature and Nd composition on non-linear transport properties in substituted Ce1−xNdxO2−δ cerium dioxides

Cerium dioxides doped or substituted by neodymium have been prepared using low- (320°C) and high-temperature (1600°C) processes. The Nd substituted ceria phase obtained at high temperature is a solid solution Ce_1−xNd_xO_2−δ 0?x?0.30. Electrical impedance spectroscopy analyses have been performed in the temperature range 40-700°C. At temperatures above 400°C, Nyquist representations allow to separate three signals corresponding to bulk, grain boundary and electrode responses. Non-linear variations of the resistance and the capacitance as functions of temperature and composition x are observed. In the case of grain boundary and electrode interface signals, constant phase elements with non-integer exponent n have been used to represent the equivalent circuits. For each contribution, the conductance strongly increases then reaches a limit value, above x=0.10. When composition x increases, the condensation of Nd-vacancy defect clusters might be at the origin of the non-linear evolution of the conductance. Bulk and grain boundary conductions present different activation energies (0.7 and 1.3 eV).     

Structural properties of LaxSr2−xFeO4±δ at high temperature and under reducing conditions

A series of materials, La_xSr_2−xFeO_4±δ (x=0.6-1.0), have been investigated structurally using neutron and X-ray diffraction techniques as well as Mössbauer spectroscopy as a function of temperature and composition. These materials adopt the I4/mmm K₂NiF₄-type structure over a wide range of temperatures (25-1200°C) and oxygen stoichiometries. In particular, it was observed that at a critical composition of x>0.8 there was a significant shift in the lattice parameters. This was attributed to changes in the Fe³⁺ content and the resultant effect of this on the d_z² orbitals giving a lengthening of the Fe-O bonds. On heating, completely linear behavior in both the a and c cell constants was observed, masking underlying bond length changes.     

p(O2)-stability of LaFe1−xNixO3−δ solid solutions at 1100 °C

LaFe_1−xNi_xO_3−δ (x=0.1−1.0) perovskites were synthesized via citrate route. The p(O₂)-stability of the perovskite phases LaFe_1−xNi_xO_3−δ has been evaluated at 1100 °C based on the results of XRD analysis of powder samples annealed at various p(O₂) and quenched to room temperature. The isothermal LaFeO_3−δ-“LaNiO_3−δ” cross-section of the phase diagram of the La-Fe-Ni-O system has been proposed in the range of oxygen partial pressure −15<log p(O₂)/atm≤0.68. The unit cell parameters of orthorhombic perovskites O-LaFe_1−xNi_xO_3−δ increase with decrease in p(O₂) at fixed composition x. This behavior is explained on the basis of size factor. The decomposition temperatures of rhombohedral phases R-LaFe_1−xNi_xO_3−δ for x=0.7, 0.8, 0.9 and 1.0 in air were determined as 1137, 1086, 1060 and 995 °C, respectively.     

Electronic, Magnetic, and Magnetoresistance Properties of the n=2 Ruddlesden-Popper Phases Sr3Fe2−xCoxO7−δ (0.25≤x≤1.75)

A series of oxygen-deficient n=2 Ruddlesden-Popper phases, Sr₃Fe_2−xCo_xO_7−δ (0.25≤x≤1.75), were prepared by solid-state reactions. Temperature-dependent susceptibility and field-dependent magnetization data indicate that for x≥0.25 the dominant magnetic interactions are ferromagnetic. The onset of strong ferromagnetic interactions is evident at ∼200 K, and a transition to a cluster-glass state is observed for all compositions below ∼45 K. The temperature variation of resistivity for all the compounds shows variable-range hopping behavior with two different localization energy scales: one for T<40 K and another for T>80 K. Large negative magnetoresistance (the largest MR ∼−65% for x=0.25) is observed for all phases. The magnetic susceptibility, Mössbauer and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy data indicate that the formal oxidation state of Fe is close to 4+. The key role of d delocalization in the Sr₃Fe_2−xCo_xO_7−δ system is compared to the Sr₃Fe_2−xMn_xO_7−δ series, where d localization dominates the properties.     

LaxSr2−xFeyRu1−yO4±δ: a new family of K2NiF4 type oxides

The phases La_xSr_2−xFe_yRu_1−yO_4±δ (x=0.2-0.8; y=0.6-0.9) have been synthesized by solid-state techniques and yield tetragonal structures with I4/mmm symmetry. The oxygen stoichiometry and high-temperature structures have been examined using diffraction techniques and in situ Mössbauer spectroscopy at temperatures up to ∼600°C. Furthermore, new reduced phases that adopt structures with Immm symmetry have been discovered. Unusual coordination numbers have been determined for the most highly reduced samples with square planar coordination evident for the B site cations. The reduced orthorhombic Immm phases were found to readily reoxidize in air to the tetragonal I4/mmm structure at relatively low temperatures of only ∼500°C.     

Synthesis and characterization of La4BaCu5O13+δ and La4BaCu5−xMxO13+δ: M=Fe, Co, Ni, Zn

La₄BaCu_5−xM_xO_13+δ: M=Fe, Co, Ni, Zn were prepared by the solid-state route at 1000°C. Solid solution limits of x=1.0(1) [Fe], x=1.1(1) [Co], x=1.56(7) [Ni] and x=0.47(1) [Zn] were determined from XRD and EPMA results. Rietveld refinement of combined XRD/neutron powder diffraction data was carried out on undoped La₄BaCu₅O_13+δ and x=1 for M=Fe, Co, Ni. For La₄BaCu₅O_13+δ, which is an oxygen-deficient perovskite, the presence of square planar CuO₄ groups, disordered over the Cu(2) sites with CuO₅ square pyramids, is indicated, together with, for δ<0, either square planar CuO₄ or square pyramidal CuO₅ and octahedral CuO₆ groups disordered over the Cu(1) sites. For M=Fe, Ni, there was preferential substitution onto the one-fold octahedral site; for M=Co, substitution took place on both the one-fold octahedral and four-fold square pyramidal sites.     

Oxygen-permeable membranes based on partially B-site substituted BaFe1−yMyO3−δ (M=Cu or Ni)

We carried out the partial substitution of the B-site in BaFeO_3−δ perovskite with divalent cations to develop novel oxygen-permeable materials. We demonstrated that the partial substitution of Cu or Ni by more than 10% resulted in the stabilization of the cubic perovskite structure even at room temperature in a highly oxygen-permeable phase, as revealed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The Cu substitution was more effective for the stabilization, because the introduction of Cu in the lattice more effectively made the Goldschmidt tolerance factor (t) close to 1.0. Ni- and Cu-substituted BaFeO_3−δ membranes showed higher oxygen permeabilities than their parent BaFeO_3−δ membranes particularly at lower temperatures around 600-700 °C owing to the stabilization of the cubic phase. Among the fabricated membranes, a BaFe_0.85Cu_0.15O_3−δ membrane (1.0 mm thickness) showed the highest oxygen permeation flux (1.8 cm³ min⁻¹ cm⁻² at 930 °C) under an air/He gradient. The results indicated that Cu-substituted BaFeO_3-δ is promising as a material for Co-free membranes with high oxygen permeabilities.     

The synthesis, crystal chemistry and structures of Y-doped brannerite (U1−xYxTi2O6) and thorutite (Th1−xYxTi2O6−δ) phases

Yttrium-doped uranium brannerite (U_1−xY_xTi₂O₆) and thorutite (Th_1−xY_xTi₂O_6−δ) phases were synthesized in air at 1400°C. Powder X-ray diffraction revealed that these phases crystallized to form monoclinic (C2/m) structures. Crystal structures of U_0.54Y_0.46Ti₂O₆ (1) (a=9.8008(2); b=3.7276(1); c=6.8745(1); β=118.38(1); V=220.97(1); Z=2; R_P=7.3%; R_B=4.6%) and Th_0.91Y_0.09Ti₂O_6−δ (2) (a=9.8002(7); b=3.7510(3); c=6.9990(5); β=118.37(4); V=226.40(3); Z=2; R_P=4.5%; R_B=2.9%) were refined from powder neutron diffraction data. These two phases were isostructural, revealing planes of corner and edge-sharing TiO₆ octahedra separated by irregular eight-fold coordinate U/Y or Th/Y atoms. The oxygen sites within the structure of 1 were found to be fully occupied, confirming that the doping of lower valence Y atoms occurs in conjunction with the oxidation of U(IV) to U(V). Y doping of the thorutite phase 2 does not lead to oxidation but rather the formation of oxygen vacancies within the structure.     

Ba3Fe2WO9−δ: Effect of oxygen non-stoichiometry on structural and magnetic properties

The magnetic and structural properties of oxygen-deficient perovskites with composition Ba₃Fe₂WO_9−δ (BFWO) have been systematically studied for two different oxygen contents corresponding to δ=0.00 and 0.55 in the chemical formula in order to determine and correlate their chemical composition, structural and magnetic properties. The evolution of nuclear and magnetic structures with temperature has been investigated by neutron powder diffraction. It was shown that at room temperature the stoichiometric compound (δ=0.00) adopts a hexagonal 6H-perovskite structure (space group P6₃/mmc). This phase, when heated at high temperature under a stream of Ar gas, transforms to an oxygen-deficient phase δ=0.55), which is an ordered cubic perovskite structure (space group Fm-3m). The crystallographic and magnetic properties of the obtained phases are compared, and it is clear that the magnetic properties are significantly affected by oxygen non-stoichiometry. These changes of magnetic properties for such a slight decrease in oxygen content are interpreted as a result of structural transformations. Together with the experimental results based on neutron powder diffraction data a discussion of some aspects of the structural transformation () is presented.     

Novel rare-earth borosilicide RE1−xB12Si3.3−δ (RE=Y, Gd-Lu) (0?x?0.5, δ≈0.3): synthesis, crystal growth, structure analysis and properties

New rare-earth boron-rich compounds with the formula of RE_1−xB₁₂Si_3.3−δ (RE=Y, Gd-Lu) (0?x?0.5,δ≈0.3) have been synthesized. They belong to a new type of rhombohedral structure with the space group of R-3m (No. 166) and z=9. The lattice constants were measured from powder XRD data. Crystal structure solved from powder XRD data for Tb_0.68B₁₂Si₃ as a representative has been compared with that of YB_17.6Si_4.6 (or Y_0.68B₁₂Si_3.01), whose structure was solved from single-crystal reflection data. The structure model is confirmed by high-resolution transmission microscope analysis. The vibrational modes of the new crystals were measured by Raman spectroscopy. Temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility which was measured for RE_1−xB₁₂Si_3.3−δ single crystals by SQUID revealed that they are paramagnetic materials down to 2.0 K.