Crystal structure and Mössbauer spectroscopy of Y2SrFeCuO6.5, a double layer perovskite intergrowth phase

The crystal structure of Y₂SrFeCuO_6.5 was determined from single-crystal X-ray and neutron powder diffraction studies. M_r = 488.81, orthorhombic, Ibam, a = 5.4036(8)5.4149(1)] Å, b = 10.702(1)10.7244(1)] Å, c = 20.250(2)20.2799(2)] Å; values in square brackets are neutron data. V = 1171.0(4), Z = 8, D_x = 5.544 g cm⁻³, λ = 0.71069 Å, μ = 345.1 cm⁻¹, R = 0.048 for 567 observed reflections. The Fe/Cu atoms occupy randomly the approximate center of oxygen pyramids. The pyramids share the apical oxygen and articulate laterally by corner sharing of oxygen to form a double pyramidal layer perpendicular to c. The pyramidal slabs are separated by double layers of Y that are in 7-fold coordination to oxygen, forming a defect fluorite unit. Mössbauer spectra indicate a unique iron environment and magnetic ordering at about 265 K. The paramagnetic phase coexists with the magnetic phase over an approximate temperature range 300-263 K, characteristic of magnetic ordering in 2-D magnetic structures. The isomer shift, 0.26, and quadrupole splitting, 0.56 mm sec⁻¹, are consistent with Fe³⁺ in 5-fold coordination and H_int values also indicate classic high spin Fe³⁺. The average Y---O bond length is 2.331(6) Å and Sr is in a dodecahedral environment in which, however, two oxygen atoms at the corners of the cube are missing. The average Sr---O bond length is 2.793(10) Å. The structure is derived from the Ruddlesden-Popper phase Sr_n+1Ti_nO_3n+1 with n = 2.