The structure of a series of lanthanide iron cobalt perovskite oxides, R (Fe 0.5 Co 0.5 )O 3 ( R = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, and Gd), have been investigated. The space group of these compounds was confirmed to be orthorhombic Pnma (No. 62), Z = 4. From Pr to Gd, the lattice parameter a varies from 5.466 35(13) Å to 5.507 10(13) Å, b from 7.7018(2) to 7.561 75(13) Å, c from 5.443 38(10) to 5.292 00(8) Å, and unit-cell volume V from 229.170(9) Å 3 to 220.376(9) Å 3 , respectively. While the trend of V follows the trend of the lanthanide contraction, the lattice parameter “ a ” increases as the ionic radius r ( R 3+ ) 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 θ, ϕ , and ω , which represent rotations of an octahedron about the pseudocubic perovskite [110] p , [001] p , and [111] p axes. All three tilt angles increase across the lanthanide series (for R = Pr to R = Gd: θ increases from 12.3° to 15.2°, ϕ from 7.5° to 15.8°, and ω from 14.4° to 21.7°), indicating a greater octahedral distortion as r ( R 3+ ) decreases. The bond valence sum for the sixfold (Fe/Co) site and the eightfold R site of R (Fe 0.5 Co 0.5 )O 3 reveal no significant bond strain. Density Functional Theory calculations for Pr(Fe 0.5 Co 0.5 )O 3 support the disorder of Fe and Co and suggest that this compound to be a narrow band gap semiconductor. XRD patterns of the R (Fe 0.5 Co 0.5 )O 3 samples were submitted to the Powder Diffraction File.
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Effect of R-site element on crystalline phase and thermal stability of Fe substituted Mn mullite-type oxides: R 2 (Mn 1−x Fe x ) 4 O 10−δ (R = Y, Sm or Bi; x = 0, 0.5, 1)
Combining experimental and theoretical studies, we investigate the role of R-site (R = Y, Sm, Bi) element on the phase formation and thermal stability of R 2 (Mn 1−x Fe x ) 4 O 10−δ ( x = 0, 0.5, 1) mullite-type oxides. Our results show a distinct R-site dependent phase behavior for mullite-type oxides as Fe is substituted for Mn: 100% mullite-type phase was formed in (Y, Sm, Bi) 2 Mn 4 O 10 ; 55% and 18% of (Y, Sm) 2 Mn 2 Fe 2 O 10−δ was found when R = Y and Sm, respectively, for equal Fe and Mn molar concentrations in the reactants, whereas Bi formed 54% O10- and 42% O9-mixed mullite-type phases. Furthermore, when the reactants contain 100% Fe, no mullite-type phase was formed for R = Y and Sm, but a sub-group transition to Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 O9-phase was found for R = Bi. Thermogravimetric analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculation results show a decreasing thermal stability in O10-type structure with increasing Fe incorporation; for example, the decomposition temperature is 1142 K for Bi 2 Mn 2 Fe 2 O 10−δ vs. 1217 K for Bi 2 Mn 4 O 10 . On the other hand, Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 O9-type structure is found to be thermally stable up to 1227 K. These findings are explained by electronic structure calculations: (1) as Fe concentration increases, Jahn–Teller distortion results in mid band-gap empty states from unstable Fe 4+ occupied octahedra, which is responsible for the decrease in O10 structure stability; (2) the directional sp orbital hybridization unique to Bi effectively stabilizes the mullite-type structure as Fe replaces Mn.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1700030
- PAR ID:
- 10062589
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- RSC Advances
- Volume:
- 8
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2046-2069
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 28 to 37
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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