Synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of new layered hexagonal perovskite Ba8Ta4Ru8/3Co2/3O24

A new hexagonal perovskite-type oxide Ba₈Ta₄Ru_8/3Co_2/3O₂₄ was synthesized by the solid-state method at 1573 K and characterized by electron diffraction (ED), time-of-flight (TOF) neutron powder diffraction, and magnetic susceptibility. Structure parameters of Ba₈Ta₄Ru_8/3Co_2/3O₂₄ were refined by the Rietveld method from the TOF neutron powder diffraction data on the basis of space group P6₃/mcm and lattice parameters a=10.0075(1) Å and c=18.9248(2) Å as obtained from the ED data (Z=3). The crystal structure of Ba₈Ta₄Ru_8/3Co_2/3O₂₄ consists of 8-layered (cchc)₂ close-packed stacking of BaO₃ layers along the c-axis. Corner-shared octahedra are filled by Ta only and face-shared octahedra are statistically occupied by Ru, Co, and vacancies. Similar compounds Ba₈Ta₄Ru_8/3M_2/3O₂₄ with M=Ni and Zn were also prepared. Magnetic susceptibility measurements showed no magnetic ordering down to 5 K.     

Crystal and magnetic structures of the brownmillerite compound Ca2Fe1.039(8)Mn0.962(8)O5

The crystal and magnetic structures of the brownmillerite material, Ca₂Fe_1.039(8)Mn_0.962(8)O₅ were investigated using powder X-ray and neutron diffraction methods, the latter from 3.8 to 700 K. The compound crystallizes in Pnma space group with unit cell parameters of a=5.3055(5) Å, b=15.322(2) Å, c=5.4587(6) Å at 300 K. The neutron diffraction study revealed the occupancies of Fe³⁺ and Mn³⁺ ions in both octahedral and tetrahedral sites and showed some intersite mixing and a small, ∼4%, Fe excess. While bulk magnetization data were inconclusive, variable temperature neutron diffraction measurements showed the magnetic transition temperature to be 407(2) K below which a long range antiferromagnetic ordering of spins occurs with ordering wave vector k=(000). The spins of each ion are coupled antiferromagnetically with the nearest neighbors within the same layer and coupled antiparallel to the closest ions from the neighboring layer. This combination of intra- and inter-layer antiparallel arrangement of spins forms a G-type magnetic structure. The ordered moments on the octahedral and tetrahedral sites at 3.8 K are 3.64(16) and 4.23(16) μ_B, respectively.     

Structural and magnetic characterization of BiFexMn2-xO5 oxides (x=0.5, 1.0)

The title compounds have been synthesized by a citrate technique followed by thermal treatments in air (BiFe_0.5Mn_1.5O₅) or under high oxygen pressure conditions (BiFeMnO₅), and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and magnetization measurements. The crystal structures have been refined from NPD data in the space group Pbam at 295 K. These phases are isostructural with RMn₂O₅ oxides (R=rare earths) and contain infinite chains of Mn⁴⁺O₆ octahedra sharing edges, linked together by (Fe,Mn)³⁺O₅ pyramids and BiO₈ units. These units are strongly distorted with respect to those observed in other RFeMnO₅ compounds, due to the presence of the electronic lone pair on Bi³⁺. It is noteworthy the certain level of antisite disorder exhibited in both samples, where the octahedral positions are partially occupied by Fe cations, and vice versa. BiFe_xMn_2−xO₅ (x=0.5, 1.0) are short-range magnetically ordered below 20 K for x=0.5 and at 40 K for x=1.0. The main magnetic interactions seem to be antiferromagnetic (AFM); however, the presence of a small hysteresis in the magnetization cycles indicates the presence of some weak ferromagnetic (FM) interactions.     

Structural and Magnetic Chemistry of La2Sr2BMnO8 (B=Mg, Zn)

Polycrystalline samples of the layered perovskites La₂Sr₂MgMnO₈ and La₂Sr₂ZnMnO₈ have been studied by X-ray and neutron powder diffraction, electron diffraction and magnetometry. X-ray and neutron powder diffraction indicate that the average structure is that of K₂NiF₄, with disordering of Mn and (Zn, Mg) cations over the octahedral sites. Electron diffraction data indicate that cation ordering is present over these sites in the xy planes, with the xy ordered planes being stacked in a disordered manner along z. No long-range magnetic ordering is observed in the temperature range 5≤T (K)≤300.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of a new pillared perovskite La5Mo2.75V1.25O16

A new pillared perovskite compound La₅Mo_2.76(4)V_1.25(4)O₁₆, has been synthesized by solid-state reaction and its crystal structure has been characterized using powder X-ray and neutron diffraction. The magnetic properties of this compound have been investigated using SQUID magnetometry, and the magnetic structure has been studied using neutron diffraction data. A theoretical calculation of relative strengths of spin interactions among different magnetic ions and through different pathways has been performed using extended Hückel, spin dimer analysis. The crystal structure of this material contains perovskite-type layers that are connected through edge-sharing dimeric units of octahedra. The structure is described in space group C2/m with unit cell parameters a=7.931(2) Å, b=7.913(2) Å, c=10.346(5) Å and β=95.096(5)°. The material shows both short-range ferrimagnetic correlations from ∼200 to 110 K and long-range antiferromagnetic order below T_c∼100 K. The magnetic structure was investigated by neutron diffraction and is described by k=(0 0 ) as for other pillared perovskites. It consists of a ferrimagnetic arrangement of Mo and V within the layers that are coupled antiferromagnetically between layers. This is the first magnetic structure determination for any Mo-based pillared perovskite.     

Synthesis and characterization of the reduced double-layer manganite Sr3Mn2O6+x

The oxygen-deficient Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) phase Sr₃Mn₂O₆ crystallizes with an ordered array of oxygen vacancies to afford a structure in which the Mn³⁺ ions exist in a square-pyramidal environment. The MnO₅ polyhedra are linked through their corners to form a structure that is related to that observed for the single-layered material, Sr₂MnO_3.5. The nuclear and magnetic structures of a polycrystalline sample of Sr₃Mn₂O₆ have been determined using Rietveld analysis of neutron powder diffraction data and electron diffraction techniques. The pure Mn³⁺ double-layered phase crystallizes in a superstructure of the simple RP subcell: tetragonal, P4/mbm, a=10.8686(2) Å and c=20.2051(3) Å.Magnetic susceptibility studies suggest a transition at ∼250 K to a canted antiferromagnetic ordered structure. The magnetic unit-cell consists of ferromagnetic clusters of corner-sharing MnO₅ units, which are antiferromagnetically aligned to other clusters within the layers.     

Structural and magnetic properties of the quaternary oxides Ba6Ln2Fe4O15 (Ln=Pr and Nd)

The crystal structures and magnetic properties of the quaternary lanthanide oxides Ba₆Ln₂Fe₄O₁₅ (Ln=Pr and Nd) are reported. They crystallize in a hexagonal structure with space group P6₃mc and have the “Fe₄O₁₅ cluster” consisting of one FeO₆ octahedron and three FeO₄ tetrahedra. Measurements of the magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, and powder neutron diffraction reveal that this cluster behaves as a spin tetramer with a ferrimagnetic ground state of S_T=5 even at room temperature. The cluster moments show a long-range antiferromagnetic ordering at 23.2 K (Ln=Pr) and 17.8 K (Nd), and the magnetic moments of the Ln³⁺ ions also order cooperatively. By applying the magnetic field (∼2 T), this antiferromagnetic ordering of the clusters changes to a ferromagnetic one. This result indicates that there exists a competition in the magnetic interaction between the clusters.     

Structure of ten-layer orthorhombic Ba5Fe5O14 (BaFeO2.8) determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction

The structure of the mixed-valent Ba₅Fe₅O₁₄ (BaFeO_2.8), prepared using a molten KOH-Ba(OH)₂ flux, has been determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction. Ba₅Fe₅O₁₄ forms twinned crystals with the orthorhombic space group Cmcm, a=5.7615(8), b=9.9792(14) and c=24.347(3) Å, Z=4. The structure, which is closely related to the 10H BaFeO_2.65 perovskite, is composed of two oxygen-deficient BaO₂ layers and eight BaO₃ layers with a (hchhc)₂ stacking sequence, where h and c denote hexagonal or cubic layers. A displacement of barium and oxygen atoms in the BaO₂ layers from hexagonal special positions lowers the symmetry from hexagonal to orthorhombic. This combination of stacking and vacancies creates trimers of face-sharing FeO₆ octahedra pillared by dimers of corner-sharing FeO₄ tetrahedra. The Fe⁴⁺ atoms are located in the center of the trimer and in the tetrahedral sites. The magnetism of Ba₅Fe₅O₁₄, investigated using SQUID magnetometry, is characteristic of a strongly coupled antiferromagnet.     

High-temperature neutron diffraction study of the cation ordered perovskites TbBaMn2O5+x and TbBaMn2O5.5−y

The miscibility of TbBaMn₂O_5+x and TbBaMn₂O_5.5−y has been investigated at 100-600 °C using in situ powder neutron diffraction. No miscibility is observed, and the two phases remain oxygen stoichiometric (x,y=0) at 600 °C. Structure refinement results show that neither material undergoes a phase transition in this temperature range. TbBaMn₂O₅ is Mn²⁺/Mn³⁺ charge ordered and any charge melting transition is >600 °C. This symmetry-broken charge ordering is remarkably robust in comparison to that in other oxides.     

Pb2.85Ba2.15Fe4SnO13: A new member of the AnBnO3n−2 anion-deficient perovskite-based homologous series

Pb_2.85Ba_2.15Fe₄SnO₁₃, a new n=5 member of the anion-deficient perovskite based A_nB_nO_3n−2 (A=Pb, Ba, B=Fe, Sn) homologous series, was synthesized by the solid state method. The crystal structure of Pb_2.85Ba_2.15Fe₄SnO₁₃ was investigated using a combination of neutron powder diffraction, electron diffraction, high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy. It crystallizes in the Ammm space group with unit cell parameters a=5.7990(1) Å, b=4.04293(7) Å and c=26.9561(5) Å. The Pb_2.85Ba_2.15Fe₄SnO₁₃ structure consists of quasi two-dimensional perovskite blocks separated by 1/2[110](1?01)_p crystallographic shear (CS) planes. The corner-sharing FeO₆ octahedra at the CS planes are transformed into edge-sharing FeO₅ distorted tetragonal pyramids. The octahedral positions in the perovskite blocks between the CS planes are jointly taken up by Fe and Sn, with a preference of Sn towards the position at the center of the perovskite block. The chains of FeO₅ pyramids and (Fe,Sn)O₆ octahedra of the perovskite blocks delimit six-sided tunnels at the CS planes occupied by double chains of Pb atoms. The compound is antiferromagnetically ordered below T_N=368±15 K.     

A re-investigation of the crystal structure and luminescence of BaCa2MgSi2O8:Eu

Barium calcium magnesium silicate (BaCa₂MgSi₂O₈), a compound whose space group was obtained via X-ray diffraction data, was re-investigated using neutron diffraction techniques. A combined powder X-ray and neutron Rietveld method revealed that BaCa₂MgSi₂O₈ crystallizes in the trigonal space group P3? (Z=1, a=5.42708(5) Å, c=6.79455(7) Å, V=173.310(4) Å³; R_p/R_wp=5.52%/7.63%), instead of the previously believed space group P3?m1. The difference in the two structures arises from the displacement of the O2 atom. Blue emission from Ba_0.98Eu_0.02Ca₂MgSi₂O₈ under 325-nm excitation is ascribed to the 4f⁶5d¹→4f⁷ transitions of Eu²⁺ ions at Ba sites and Ca sites. Site assignment of Eu²⁺ ions in the titled compound was performed by analysis of emission spectra at temperatures in the range of 4.2-300 K.     

Deuterium ordering in Laves-phase deuteride YFe2D4.2

The structure of Laves-phase deuteride YFe₂D_4.2 has been investigated by synchrotron and neutron (ToF) powder diffraction experiments between 60 and 370 K. Below 323 K, YFe₂D_4.2 crystallizes in a fully ordered, monoclinic structure (s.g. Pc, Z=8, a=5.50663(4), b=11.4823(1), c=9.42919(6) Å, β=122.3314(5)°, V=503.765(3) Å³ at 290 K) containing 4 yttrium, 8 iron and 18 deuterium atoms. Most D-D distances are, within the precision of the diffraction experiment, longer than 2.1 Å; the shortest ones are of 1.96 Å. Seven of eight iron atoms are coordinated by deuterium in a trigonal bipyramid, similar to that in TiFeD_1.95−2. The eighth iron atom is coordinated by deuterium in a tetrahedral configuration. The coordination of iron by deuterium, and the iron-deuterium distances point to the importance of the directional bonding between iron and deuterium atoms. The lowering of crystal symmetry due to deuterium ordering occurs at much higher temperature than the magnetic ordering, and is therefore one of the parameters that are at the origin of the magnetic transition at lower temperatures.     

Structural and magnetic properties of Pr18Li8Fe5−xMxO39 (M=Ru, Mn, Co)

A polycrystalline sample of Pr₁₈Li₈Fe₄RuO₃₉ has been synthesized by a solid state method and characterized by neutron powder diffraction, magnetometry and Mössbauer spectroscopy; samples of Pr₁₈Li₈Fe_5−xMn_xO₃₉ and Pr₁₈Li₈Fe_5−xCo_xO₃₉ (x=1, 2) have been studied by magnetometry. All these compounds adopt a cubic structure (space group , a₀∼11.97 Å) based on intersecting 〈111〉 chains made up of alternating octahedral and trigonal-prismatic coordination sites. These chains occupy channels within a Pr-O framework. The trigonal-prismatic site in Pr₁₈Li₈Fe₄RuO₃₉ is occupied by Li⁺ and high-spin Fe³⁺. The remaining transition-metal cations occupy the two crystallographically-distinct octahedral sites in a disordered manner. All five compositions adopt a spin-glass-like state at 7 K (Pr₁₈Li₈Fe₄RuO₃₉) or below.     

Aurivillius phases of PbBi4Ti4O15 doped with Mn synthesized by molten salt technique: Structure, dielectric, and magnetic properties

Doping of manganese (Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺) into the Aurivillius phase Pb_1−xBi_4+xTi_4−xMn_xO₁₅ was carried out using the molten salt technique for various Mn concentrations (x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1). Single phase samples could be obtained in the composition range with x up to 0.6 as confirmed by X-ray and neutron diffraction analysis. Dielectric measurements show a peak at 801, 803, 813 and 850 K for samples with x=0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6, respectively, related to the ferroelectric transition temperature (T_c). The main contribution of the in-plane polarization for x≤0.2 which was calculated from the atomic positions obtained by the structure analysis is the dipole moment in the Ti(1)O₆ layer; however, for x≥0.4 the polarization originates from the dipole moment in the Ti(2)O₆ layer. Mn doping in the Pb_1−xBi_4+xTi_4−xMn_xO₁₅ does not show any long range magnetic ordering.     

A Suberato-Pillared Mn(II) Coordination Polymer: Hydrothermal Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Magnetic Properties of Mn2(H2O)[O2C(CH2)6CO2]2

A suberato-pillared Mn(II) coordination polymer Mn₂(H₂O)(C₈H₁₂O₄)₂ was hydrothermally synthesized at 170°C for 3 days and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystal data: monoclinic, C2/c, Z=4, a=26.544(5), b=7.617(2), c=9.187(2) Å, β=105.38(2)°, V=1791.0(7) ų, R₁=0.064 and wR₂=0.162. The compound shows a layered structure consisting of inorganic Mn oxygen polyhedral layers and organic regions. The inorganic Mn oxygen layers are generated from Mn₂O₁₀ bioctahedral units, which share corners with neighbors to form zigzag chains along the [001] direction and are, along the [010] direction, further connected by carboxylate groups of the suberato ligands and hydrogen bonds. The magnetic studies indicated that the compound becomes antiferromagnetic at low temperatures with T_Néel=12 K and follows Curie-Weiss law χ_m(T+22.429)= 4.48 cm³ mol⁻¹ K between 25 and 300 K. Upon heating in Ar stream, Mn₂(H₂O)(C₈H₁₂O₄)₂ decomposes in three steps.     

Oxygen and cation ordered perovskite, Ba2Y2Mn4O11

A three-step route has been developed for the synthesis of a new oxygen-ordered double perovskite, BaYMn₂O_5.5 or Ba₂Y₂Mn₄O₁₁. (i) The A-site cation ordered perovskite, BaYMn₂O_5+δ, is first synthesized at δ≈0 by an oxygen-getter-controlled low-O₂-pressure encapsulation technique utilizing FeO as the getter for excess oxygen. (ii) The as-synthesized, oxygen-deficient BaYMn₂O_5.0 phase is then readily oxygenated to the δ≈1 level by means of 1-atm-O₂ annealing at low temperatures. (iii) By annealing this fully oxygenated BaYMn₂O_6.0 in flowing N₂ gas at moderate temperatures the new intermediate oxygen content oxide, BaYMn₂O_5.5 or Ba₂Y₂Mn₄O₁₁, is finally obtained. From thermogravimetric observation it is seen that the final oxygen depletion from δ≈1.0 to 0.5 occurs in a single sharp step about 600°C, implying that the oxygen stoichiometry of BaYMn₂O_5+δ is not continuously tunable within 0.5<δ<1.0. For BaYMn₂O_5.5 synchrotron X-ray diffraction analysis reveals an orthorhombic crystal lattice and a long-range ordering of the excess oxygen atoms in the YO_0.5 layer. The magnetic behavior of BaYMn₂O_5.5 (with a ferromagnetic transition at ∼133 K) is found different from those previously reported for the known phases, BaYMn₂O_5.0 and BaYMn₂O_6.0.     

Composition- and temperature-dependent phase transitions in 1:3 ordered perovskites Ba4−xSrxNaSb3O12

A series of 25 members of the 1:3 ordered perovskite family of the type Ba_4−xSr_xNaSb₃O₁₂ has been synthesized and their structures determined using synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffraction techniques. At room temperature the sample Ba₄NaSb₃O₁₂ has a cubic structure in space group with a=8.2821(1) Å, where the Na and Sb cations are ordered in the octahedral sites but there is no tilting of the (Na/Sb)O₆ octahedra. As the average size of the A-site cation decreases, through the progressive replacement of Ba by Sr, tilting of the octahedra is introduced firstly lowering the symmetry to tetragonal in P4/mnc then to orthorhombic in Cmca and ultimately a monoclinic structure in P2₁/n as seen for Sr₄NaSb₃O₁₂ with a=8.0960(2) Å, b=8.0926(2) Å, c=8.1003(1) Å and β=90.016(2)°. The powder neutron diffraction studies show that the orthorhombic and tetragonal phases in Cmca and P4/mnc co-exist at room temperature for samples with x between 1.5 and 2.     

The Crystal Structures, Microstructure and Ionic Conductivity of Ba2In2O5 and Ba(InxZr1−x)O3−x/2

This paper describes the results of electron microscopy, high-temperature powder neutron diffraction, and impedance spectroscopy studies of brownmillerite-structured Ba₂In₂O₅ and perovskite structured Ba(In_xZr_1−x)O_3−x/2. The ambient temperature structure of Ba₂In₂O₅ is found to adopt Icmm symmetry, with disorder of the tetrahedrally coordinated (In³⁺) ions of the type observed previously in Sr₂Fe₂O₅. Ba₂In₂O₅ undergoes a ∼6-fold increase in its ionic conductivity over the narrow temperature range from ∼1140 K to ∼1230 K, in broad agreement with previous studies. This transition corresponds to a change from the brownmillerite structure to a cubic perovskite arrangement with disordered anions. Electron microscopy investigations showed the presence of extended defects in all the crystals analyzed. Ba(In_xZr_1−x)O_3−x/2 samples with x=0.1 to 0.9 adopt the cubic perovskite structure, with the lattice parameter increasing with x.