Structural and magnetic properties of high-pressure/high-temperature synthesized (Sr1-xRx)CoO3 (R=Y and Ho) perovskites

Polycrystalline perovskite cobalt oxides Sr_1-xR_xCoO₃ (R=Y and Ho; 0?x?1) were prepared by high-pressure/high-temperature technique. X-ray powder patterns of the Y-system indicated cubic perovskite form for 0?x?0.5, and orthorhombic perovskite form for x=0.8 and 1.0, while coexisting of the two phases for x=0.6. The cubic perovskite samples had metallic electric resistivities while the orthorhombic ones with semiconducting or insulating nature. The parent compound SrCoO₃ showed a ferromagnetic transition at 266 K. With the Y substitution, the transition temperature increased slightly to ∼275 K at x=0.1, then decreased rapidly to ∼60 K for x=0.6. The YCoO₃ (x=1) sample showed non-magnetic behavior. The Ho-substituted system showed quite similar structural, transport and magnetic properties to those of the Y-system.     

Crystal structure, thermal expansion and conductivity of anisotropic La1−xSrxGa1−2xMg2xO3−y (x=0.05, 0.1) single crystals

Crystal structure and anisotropy of the thermal expansion of single crystals of La_1−xSr_xGa_1−2xMg_2xO_3−y (x=0.05 and 0.1) were measured in the temperature range 300-1270 K. High-resolution X-ray powder diffraction data obtained by synchrotron experiments have been used to determine the crystal structure and thermal expansion. The room temperature structure of the crystal with x=0.05 was found to be orthorhombic (Imma, Z=4, a=7.79423(3) Å, b=5.49896(2) Å, c=5.53806(2) Å), whereas the symmetry of the x=0.1 crystal is monoclinic (I2/a, Z=4, a=7.82129(5) Å, b=5.54361(3) Å, c=5.51654(4) Å, β=90.040(1)°). The conductivity in two orthogonal directions of the crystals has been studied. Both, the conductivity and the structural data indicate three phase transitions in La_0.95Sr_0.05Ga_0.9Mg_0.1O_2.92 at 520-570 K (Imma-I2/a), 770 K (I2/a-R3c) and at 870 K (R3c-R-3c), respectively. Two transitions at 770 K (I2/a-R3c) and in the range 870-970 K (R3c-R-3c) occur in La_0.9Sr_0.1Ga_0.8Mg_0.2O_2.85.     

MGe(PO4)2 (M=Ca, Sr, Ba): Crystal structure, phase transitions and thermal expansion

Three earth alkali-germanium monophosphates M^IIGe(PO₄)₂ (M=Ca, Sr, Ba) were prepared by solid state reaction and their structures, previously unknown, studied by Rietveld analysis. BaGe(PO₄)₂ and high-temperature β-SrGe(PO₄)₂ (space group C2/m, Z=2) are fully isotypic with yavapaiite, whereas CaGe(PO₄)₂ and low-temperature α-SrGe(PO₄)₂ (C2/c, Z=4) are distorted derivatives. The phase transition between the two forms is observed for the first time. The thermal expansion, resulting from several structural mechanisms, is very anisotropic.     

Crystal structure and thermal expansion of PrGaO3 in the temperature range 12-1253 K

Crystal structure and thermal expansion of PrGaO₃ single crystal, obtained by the Czochralsky method, have been investigated by means of single crystal and high-resolution powder diffraction techniques applying synchrotron radiation in a wide temperature range 12-1253 K. It was shown that PrGaO₃ adopts an orthorhombically distorted variant of perovskite structure (GdFeO₃ type of structure, space group Pbnm, Z=4) throughout the entire temperature range. Temperature dependence of lattice parameters and respective unit cell volume display anisotropic and nonlinear behavior. Lattice contraction in [010]- and [100]-directions is observed in temperature ranges 12-180 and 12-50 K, respectively. In total PrGaO₃ exhibits a negative thermal expansion of the volume between 12 and 50 K. A linear increase of the average bond lengths (PrO)₈, (PrO)₉, (PrO)₁₂, (GaO)₆, as well as the average (OO)₈ distances was observed. However, with the average (PrPr)₆, (PrGa)₈ and (GaGa)₆ cation-cation distances a change of slope occurs at 200-300 K. Over all, with rising temperature a decrease of the deformation is observed for the perovskite type structure. A phase transition from orthorhombic to rhombohedral structure of PrGaO₃ around 1855 K is predicted from extrapolation of both the temperature dependencies of the (PrPr)₆/(GaGa)₆ distance ratio and of the experimental temperatures of the -Pbnm phase transition for LaGaO₃, CeGaO₃ and La_1−xRE_xGaO₃ (RE—rare earth) perovskites.     

Composition dependence of the photophysical and photocatalytic properties of (AgNbO3)1−x(NaNbO3)x solid solutions

A series of orthorhombic photocatalysts (AgNbO₃)_1−x(NaNbO₃)_x solid solutions have been synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. The composition dependence of the photophysical and photocatalytic properties of synthesized solid solutions has been investigated systematically. With an increase in the content of NaNbO₃, we found that (1) the lattice parameters decreased; (2) the Nb-O bond length in NbO₆ octahedron reduced; (3) the band gap increased; and (4) the mean particle size decreased while the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area increased. Photocatalytic activities of the (AgNbO₃)_1−x(NaNbO₃)_x (0?x?0.5) samples were evaluated from gaseous 2-propanol (IPA) decomposition into acetone and CO₂ under visible-light irradiation emitted from blue-light-emitting diodes (BLEDs; light intensity: 0.01 mW cm⁻²). Among all the samples, the (AgNbO₃)_0.6(NaNbO₃)_0.4 sample showed the highest photocatalytic activity.     

The nature of the orthorhombic to tetragonal phase transition in Sr1−xCaxMnO3

The orthorhombic-tetragonal phase transition in the perovskite series Sr_1−xCa_xMnO₃ 0.4?x?0.6 has been studied by synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction. At room temperature the Ca rich oxides x?0.45 have the orthorhombic Pbnm superstructure whereas Sr_0.6Ca_0.4MnO₃ is two phases with both tetragonal I4/mcm and orthorhombic Pbnm. Analysis of the octahedral tilts suggest the co-existence of these two phases is a consequence of a first-order I4/mcm to Pbnm transition. The evolution of the structure of Sr_0.5Ca_0.5MnO₃ with temperature is also described and this is found to evolve from orthorhombic to tetragonal and ultimately cubic.     

Thermoelectric properties of polycrystalline La1−xSrxCoO3

Thermoelectric properties of polycrystalline La_1−xSr_xCoO₃, where Sr²⁺ is substituted in La³⁺ site in perovskite-type LaCoO₃, have been investigated. Sr-doping increases the electrical conductivity (σ) of La_1−xSr_xCoO₃, and also decreases the Seebeck coefficient (S) for 0.01?x?0.40. A Hall coefficient measurement reveals that the increase in electrical conductivity arises from increases in both carrier concentration and the Hall mobility. The decrease in the Seebeck coefficient is caused by a decrease in carrier effective mass as well as increase in carrier concentration. The highest power factor (σS²) is 3.7×10⁻⁴ W m⁻¹ K⁻² at 250 K for x=0.10. The thermal conductivity (κ) is about 2 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ at 300 K for 0?x?0.04, and increases for x?0.05 because of an increase in heat transport by conductive carrier. The thermoelectric properties of La_1−xSr_xCoO₃ are improved by Sr-doping, and the figure of merit (Z=σS² κ⁻¹) reaches 1.6×10⁻⁴ K⁻¹ for x=0.06 at 300 K (ZT=0.048). For heavily Sr-doped samples, the thermoelectric properties diminish mainly because of the decrease in the Seebeck coefficient and the increase in thermal conductivity.     

Structure and phase composition of nanocrystalline Ce1−xLuxO2−y

The microstructure and phase stability of nanocrystalline mixed oxide Lu_xCe_1−xO_2−y (x=0-1) are described. Nano-sized (3-4 nm) oxide particles were prepared by the reverse microemulsion method. Morphological and structural changes upon heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and Yb³⁺ emission spectroscopy, the latter ion being present as an impurity in the Lu₂O₃ starting material. Up to 950 °C, the samples were single phase, with structure changing smoothly with Lu content from fluorite type (F) to bixbyite type (C). For the samples heated at 1100 °C phase separation into coexisting F- and C-type structures was observed for 0.35<x<0.7. It was also found that addition of Lu strongly hinders the crystallite growth of ceria during heat treatment at 800 and 950 °C.     

Temperature and pressure dependent structural studies of the ordered double perovskites Sr2TbRu1−xIrxO6

High resolution powder diffraction studies are reported for the series of mixed RuIr perovskites Sr₂TbRu_1−xIr_xO₆. Using a combination of synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffraction precise structures are established for the two end-member oxides, where the Tb oxidation state changes from +3 in the Ru oxide to +4 in the Ir containing oxide. The structures of both oxides are monoclinic. Composition dependent studies show that this valence transition is first order. Variable temperature diffraction show no evidence for any structural or valence state transitions. However, upon application of pressure Sr₂TbRu_0.3Ir_0.7O₆ undergoes a valence state transition at low pressures.     

Crystal structures of RPt3−xSi1−y(R=Y, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb) studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction

The crystal structures of ternary compounds RPt_3−xSi_1−y(R=Y, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb) have been elucidated from X-ray single crystal CCD data. All compounds are isotypic and crystallize in the tetragonal space group P4/mbm. The general formula RPt_3−xSi_1−y arises from defects: x≈0.20, y≈0.14. The crystal structure of RPt_3−xSi_1−y can be considered as a packing of four types of building blocks which derive from the CePt₃B-type unit cell by various degrees of distortion and Pt, Si-defects.     

Synthesis, structures and phase transitions in the double perovskites Sr2−xCaxCrNbO6

The synthesis and crystal structures of nine members of the rock-salt ordered double perovskites Sr_2−xCa_xCrNbO₆ is presented. The crystal structures of the end members of the series Sr₂CrNbO₆ and Ca₂CrNbO₆ were refined using powder neutron diffraction data and are cubic in and monoclinic in P2₁/n, respectively, in both cases there being considerable anti-site Cr-Nb mixing. Variable temperature and/or composition studies suggest a direct first-order P2₁/n to transition, a suggestion supported by selected area electron diffraction studies.     

Composition-induced phase transition in Ca14Zn6−xGa10+xO35+x/2 (x=0.0 and 0.5)

Novel complex oxides Ca₁₄Zn₆Ga₁₀O₃₅ and Ca₁₄Zn_5.5Ga_10.5O_35.25 were prepared in air at 1200 °C, 72 h. Refinements of their crystal structures using X-ray powder diffraction data showed that Ca₁₄Zn₆Ga₁₀O₃₅ is ordered (S.G. F23, =0.0458, R_p=0.0485, R_wp=0.0659, χ²=1.88) and Ca₁₄Zn_5.5Ga_10.5O_35.25 disordered (S.G. F432, =0.0346, R_p=0.0601, R_wp=0.0794, χ²=2.82) variants of the crystal structure of Ca₁₄Zn₆Al₁₀O₃₅. In the crystal structure of Ca₁₄Zn₆Ga₁₀O₃₅, there are large empty voids, which could be partially occupied by additional oxygen atoms upon substitution of Zn²⁺ by Ga³⁺ as in Ca₁₄Zn_5.5Ga_10.5O_35.25. These oxygen atoms are introduced into the crystal structure of Ca₁₄Zn_5.5Ga_10.5O_35.25 only as a part of four tetrahedra (Zn, Ga)O₄ groups sharing common vertex. This creates a situation where even a minor change in the chemical composition leads to considerable anion and cation disordering resulting in a change of space group from F23 (no. 196) to F432 (no. 209).     

A novel route to synthesize cubic ZrW2−xMoxO8 (x=0-1.3) solid solutions and their negative thermal expansion properties

Cubic ZrW_2−xMo_xO₈ (c-ZrW_2−xMo_xO₈) (x=0-1.3) solid solutions were prepared by a novel polymorphous precursor transition route. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that the solid solutions are single phase with α- and β-ZrW₂O₈ structure for 0?x?0.8 and 0.9?x?1.3, respectively. The optimum synthesis conditions of ZrWMoO₈ are obtained from differential scanning calorimetry-thermal gravimetric analysis (DSC-TGA), XRD and mass loss-temperature/time curves. Following the above experience, the stoichiometric solid solutions of c-ZrW_2−xMo_xO₈ (x=0-1) are obtained within 1 wt% of mass loss. The relationships of lattice parameters (a), phase transition temperatures (T_c) and instantaneous coefficients of thermal expansion (α_i) against the content x of Mo are discussed based on the variation of order degree parameters of ZrW_2−xMo_xO₈.     

Synthesis and electrical conductivity of perovskite-type PrCo1−xMgxO3

Oxides in the system PrCo_1−xMg_xO₃ (x=0.0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25) were synthesized by citrate technique and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. All compounds have a cubic perovskite structure (space group ). The maximum ratio of doped Mg in the system PrCo_1−xMg_xO₃ is x=0.2. Further doping leads to the segregation of Pr₆O₁₁ in PrCo_1−xMg_xO₃. The substitution of Mg for Co improves the performance of PrCoO₃ as compared to the electrical conductivity measured by a four-probe electrical conductivity analyzer in the temperature range from 298 to 1073 K. The substitution of Mg for Co on the B site may be compensated by the formations of Co⁴⁺ and oxygen vacancies. The electrical conductivity of PrCo_1−xMg_xO₃ oxides increases with increasing x in the range of 0.0-0.2. The increase in conductivity becomes considerable at the temperatures ?673 K especially for x?0.1; it reaches a maximum at x=0.2 and 1073 K. From x>0.2 the conductivity of PrCo_1−xMg_xO₃ starts getting lower. This is probably a result of the segregation of Pr₆O₁₁ in PrCo_1−xMg_xO₃ , which blocks oxygen transport, and association of oxygen vacancies. A change in activation energy for all PrCo_1−xMg_xO₃ compounds (x=0-0.25) was observed, with a higher activation energy above 573 K and a lower activation energy below 573 K. The reasons for such a change are probably due to the change of dominant charge carriers from Co⁴⁺ to Vö in PrCo_1−xMg_xO₃ oxides and a phase transition mainly starting at 573 K.     

“Unusual” phase transitions in CeAlO3

High-resolution time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction was carried out to investigate the crystal structures of CeAlO₃ over a wide temperature range between 4.2 and 1423 K. Confirming the recent result of X-ray powder diffraction, the room temperature structure is tetragonal with the space group I4/mcm (tilt system (a⁰a⁰c⁻)). The tetragonal structure persists down to 4.2 K. However, above room temperature CeAlO₃ undergoes three phase transitions: first to the orthorhombic Imma structure (tilt system (a⁰b⁻b⁻)) at, e.g., 373 K, then to the rhombohedral structure (tilt system (a⁻a⁻a⁻)) at, e.g., 473 K, and finally, to the primitive cubic structure which exists above 1373 K. The sequence of phases, , which occurs in CeAlO₃ is a rare one in oxide perovskites.     

Ternary rare-earth titanium antimonides: Phase equilibria in the RE-Ti-Sb (RE=La, Er) systems and crystal structures of RE2Ti7Sb12 (RE=La, Ce, Pr, Nd) and RETi3(SnxSb1-x)4 (RE=Nd, Sm)

Investigations on phase relationships and crystal structures have been conducted on several ternary rare-earth titanium antimonide systems. The isothermal cross-sections of the ternary RE-Ti-Sb systems containing a representative early (RE=La) and late rare-earth element (RE=Er) have been constructed at 800 °C. In the La-Ti-Sb system, the previously known compound La₃TiSb₅ was confirmed and the new compound La₂Ti₇Sb₁₂ (own type, Cmmm, Z=2, a=10.5446(10) Å, b=20.768(2) Å, and c=4.4344(4) Å) was discovered. In the Er-Ti-Sb system, no ternary compounds were found. The structure of La₂Ti₇Sb₁₂ consists of a complex arrangement of TiSb₆ octahedra and disordered fragments of homoatomic Sb assemblies, generating a three-dimensional framework in which La atoms reside. Other early rare-earth elements (RE=Ce, Pr, Nd) can be substituted in this structure type. Attempts to prepare crystals in these systems through use of a tin flux resulted in the discovery of a new Sn-containing pseudoternary phase RETi₃(Sn_xSb_1−x)₄ for RE=Nd, Sm (own type, Fmmm, Z=8; a=5.7806(4) Å, b=10.0846(7) Å, and c=24.2260(16) Å for NdTi₃(Sn_0.1Sb_0.9)₄; a=5.7590(4) Å, b=10.0686(6) Å, and c=24.1167(14) Å for SmTi₃(Sn_0.1Sb_0.9)₄). Its structure consists of double-layer slabs of Ti-centred octahedra stacked alternately with nets of the RE atoms; the Ti atoms are arranged in kagome nets.     

Synthesis and structural study of a new NASICON-type solid solution: Li1−xLax/3Zr2(PO4)3

A new complete solid solution of NASICON-type compounds between LiZr₂(PO₄)₃ and La_1/3Zr₂(PO₄)₃ was evidenced with the general formula Li_1−xLa_x/3Zr₂(PO₄)₃ (0?x?1). These phases were synthesized by a complex polymerizable method and structurally characterized from Rietveld treatment of their X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data. This solid solution results from the substitution mechanism Li⁺→1/3La³⁺+2/3□ leading to an increase of the vacancies number correlated to an increase of the La content. According to this substitution mechanism, the general formula can then be written Li_1−xLa_x/3□_2x/3Zr₂(PO₄)₃ (0?x?1) in order to underline the correlation between the La content and the vacancies rate. For all the compounds, the structure is clearly related to that of the NASICON family with three crystallographic domains evidenced. For 0?x?0.5, all the members adopt at high temperature the typical NASICON-type structure (s.g. R3¯c), while at lower temperature, their structure distorts to a triclinic form (s.g. C 1¯), as observed for LiZr₂(PO₄)₃ prepared above 1100 °C. Moreover, in this domain, the reversible transition is clearly soft and the transition temperature strongly depends of the x value. For 0.6?x?0.9, the compounds crystallize in a rhombohedral cell (s.g. R3¯), while for x=1, the phase La_1/3Zr₂(PO₄)₃ is obtained (s.g. P3¯, Z=6, a=8.7378(2) Å, c=23.2156(7) Å).This paper is devoted to the structure analysis of the series Li_1−xLa_x/3Zr₂(PO₄)₃ (0?x?1), from X-ray and neutron powder thermo diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies.     

Solid solubility and phase transitions in the system LaNb1−xTaxo4

The solid solubility between LaNbO₄ and LaTaO₄ was investigated by X-ray diffraction, and a two-phase region was observed in the composition region LaNb_1−xTa_xO₄ where 0.4?x?0.8. Single-phase LaNb_1−xTa_xO₄ (0?x?0.4) with the monoclinic Fergusonite structure at ambient temperature, was observed to transform to a tetragonal Scheelite structure by in-situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction, and the phase transition temperature was shown to increase with increasing Ta-content. This ferroelastic to paraelastic second-order phase transition was described by Landau theory using spontaneous strain as an order parameter. The thermal expansion of LaNb_1−xTa_xO₄ (0?x0.4) was shown to be significantly higher below the phase transition than above. Single-phase LaNb_1−xTa_xO₄ (0.8?x?1) with another monoclinic crystal structure at ambient temperature was shown to transform to an orthorhombic crystal structure by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The phase transition temperature was observed to decrease with decreasing Ta-content. Finally, orthorhombic LaTaO₄ could also be transformed to monoclinic LaTaO₄ at ambient temperature by applying a uniaxial pressure of 150-170 MPa, reflecting the lower molar volume of monoclinic LaTaO₄.     

Synthesis and properties of the Co7Se8−xSx and Ni7Se8−xSx solid solutions

We report the synthesis and elementary properties of the Co₇Se_8−xS_x (x=0-8) and Ni₇Se_8−xS_x (x=0-7) solid solutions. Both systems form a NiAs-type structure with metal vacancies. In general, the lattice parameters decrease with increasing x, but in the Ni₇Se_8−xS_x system c increases on going from x=5 to 7. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show that all samples exhibit temperature-independent paramagnetism from 25-250 K. Samples within the Co₇Se_8−xS_x system, as well as Ni₇Se₈ and Ni₇SeS₇, were found to be poor metals with resistivities of ∼0.20 and ∼0.06 mΩ cm at 300 K, respectively. The Sommerfeld constant (γ) was determined from specific heat measurements to be ∼13 mJ/mol_CoK² and ∼7 mJ/mol_NiK² for Co₇Se_8−xS_x and Ni₇Se_8−xS_x, respectively.     

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of the solid-solution phase Ca3Co2-vMnvO6

The homogeneity range of the Ca₃Co_2-vMn_vO₆ solid-solution phase covers the entire composition interval from v=0 to 1. A systematic powder X-ray and neutron diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, and magnetization study has been carried out to investigate effects of the Mn-for-Co substitution on structural and magnetic properties. The Mn substitution concerns primarily only the octahedral Co1 site of the Ca₃Co1Co2O₆ crystal structure, whereas the trigonal-prismatic Co2 site structurally is left essentially unaffected. The Ca₃Co_2-vMn_vO₆ crystal structure belongs to space group with unit-cell dimensions (in hexagonal setting) 9.084?a?9.134 Å and 10.448?c?10.583 Å. A cut through the magnetic phase diagram at 10 K shows a ferrimagnetic domain for 0?v<∼0.3 and an antiferromagnetic domain for ∼0.50<v<∼1. The magnetic ordering temperatures are quite low (<∼25/18 K), and even so further magnetic transitions appear to take place at still lower temperature. The legitimity and reliability of the different indicators used to establish the magnetic transitions, their individual accuracy, and mutual consistency are briefly discussed. Variable parameters of the crystal and magnetic structures of Ca₃Co1_1-vMn_vCo2O₆ are determined and their variation with v is briefly discussed in relation to chemical bonding. The magnetic structure in the ferrimagnetic region is essentially the same as that of the pristine v=0 phase, but since the moments at the Co2 site decrease and those at the (Co1,Mn) site increase with increasing v; characteristic traits of ferrimagnetism in magnetic susceptibility and magnetization gradually disappear. The magnetic arrangement in the antiferromagnetic region is characterized by differently sized moments at the (Co1,Mn) and Co2 sites, moments at adjacent sites in each of these sublattices being oppositely oriented along [001].