Ln2BaZnO5 and Ln2BaZn1−xCuxO5: A series of zinc oxides with zinc in a pyramidal coordination

A series of zinc oxides Ln₂BaZnO₅ has been synthesized for Ln = Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, and Y. Theses phases are orthorhombic and isostructural with the copper compounds Ln₂BaCuO₅ previously described, as shown from the structural study of one member Y₂BaZnO₅. In this structure, whose framework is built up from edge- and face-sharing LnO₇ polyhedra, the Zn²⁺ ions exhibit an unusual pyramidal coordination ZnO₅. The solid solution Y₂BaZn_1?xCu_xO₅ has been studied by infrared spectroscopy and electron spin resonance (ESR). The distorted square-based pyramidal configuration of Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ is confirmed. The ESR spectra of diluted samples exhibit a hyperfine structure and are typical of individual Cu(II) ions. For higher Cu(II) contents, they exhibit an anisotropic broad signal which is interpreted in terms of CuCu interactions.