X-Ray Diffraction and Density Functional Theory Studies of R(Fe0.5Co0.5)O3 (R = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd)

I. Williamson, K. R. Talley, L. Li

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

<p> The structure of a series of lanthanide iron cobalt perovskite oxides, <em> R </em> (Fe <sub> 0.5 </sub> Co <sub> 0.5 </sub> )O <sub> 3 </sub> ( <em> R </em> = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, and Gd), have been investigated. The space group of these compounds was confirmed to be orthorhombic <em> Pnma </em> (No. 62), Z = 4. From Pr to Gd, the lattice parameter <em> a </em> varies from 5.466 35(13) &Aring; to 5.507 10(13) &Aring;, <em> b </em> from 7.7018(2) to 7.561 75(13) &Aring;, <em> c </em> from 5.443 38(10) to 5.292 00(8) &Aring;, and unit-cell volume <em> V </em> from 229.170(9) &Aring; <sup> 3 </sup> to 220.376(9) &Aring; <sup> 3 </sup> , respectively. While the trend of V follows the trend of the lanthanide contraction, the lattice parameter &ldquo; <em> a </em> &rdquo; increases as the ionic radius <em> r </em> ( <em> R </em> <sup> 3+ </sup> ) decreases. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy confirm that Fe and Co are disordered over the octahedral sites. The structure distortion of these compounds is evidenced in the tilt angles <em> &theta;, &varphi; </em> , and <em> &omega; </em> , which represent rotations of an octahedron about the pseudocubic perovskite [110] <sub> p </sub> , [001] <sub> p </sub> , and [111] <sub> p </sub> axes. All three tilt angles increase across the lanthanide series (for <em> R </em> = Pr to <em> R </em> = Gd: <em> &theta; </em> increases from 12.3&deg; to 15.2&deg;, <em> &varphi; </em> from 7.5&deg; to 15.8&deg;, and <em> &omega; </em> from 14.4&deg; to 21.7&deg;), indicating a greater octahedral distortion as <em> r </em> ( <em> R </em> <sup> 3+ </sup> ) decreases. The bond valence sum for the sixfold (Fe/Co) site and the eightfold <em> R </em> site of <em> R </em> (Fe <sub> 0.5 </sub> Co <sub> 0.5 </sub> )O <sub> 3 </sub> reveal no significant bond strain. Density Functional Theory calculations for Pr(Fe <sub> 0.5 </sub> Co <sub> 0.5 </sub> )O <sub> 3 </sub> support the disorder of Fe and Co and suggest that this compound to be a narrow band gap semiconductor. XRD patterns of the <em> R </em> (Fe <sub> 0.5 </sub> Co <sub> 0.5 </sub> )O <sub> 3 </sub> samples were submitted to the Powder Diffraction File.</p>
Original languageAmerican English
JournalPowder Diffraction
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2016

Keywords

  • DFT calculations
  • Eu
  • Gd)
  • Nd
  • R(Fe0.5Co0.5)O3 (R = Pr
  • Sm
  • TEM
  • crystal structure
  • x-ray powder diffraction patterns

EGS Disciplines

  • Materials Science and Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'X-Ray Diffraction and Density Functional Theory Studies of R(Fe0.5Co0.5)O3 (R = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this