Abstract: The new families of superconducting compounds ''1201'' (Hg0.4Pr0.6Sr2CuO4+delta), ''1212'' (Hg0.4Pr0.6Sr2(Ca1-x-ySrxPry) Cu2O6+delta), and ''1222'' (Hg0.4Pr0.6Sr2(Pr1.7Sr0.3)(2)Cu2O8+delta) all show ordering between praseodymium and mercury in the (Hg,Pr)O-delta plane, reducing the symmetry from tetragonal to orthorhombic or even to monoclinic. In the 1201 compound the ordered superstructure can be described as O-I (a(I) approximate to 2a(p), b(I), approximate to a(p), c(I) approximate to c(1201)). In the 1212 compound two distinct superstructures are identified, O-I (a(I) approximate to 2a(p), b(II) approximate to a(p), c(I) approximate to c(1212)) and O-II (a(II) approximate to 2a(p), b(II) approximate to a(p), c(II) approximate to 2c(1212)). In some compounds, such as Hg0.4Pr0.6Sr2(Ca0.4Sr0.4Pr0.2) Cu2O6+delta, the Hg-Pr ordering is only present in microdomains, but due to an ordering between Sr layers and Ca layers, the c-axis doubles and one obtains a tetragonal superstructure T-III (a(III) approximate to a(p), c(III) approximate to 2c(1212)). In the 1222 compound, ordering in the (Pr,Hg)O-delta plane is very defective; a large number of translation defects actually reduce the symmetry to triclinic. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.

Abstract: The structure and defect structure of Bi2-xPbxSr3.5Cu2 (CO3)O8-delta compounds with 0 less-than-or-equal-to x less-than-or-equal-to 0.75 are carefully investigated by electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy. All compounds have an orthorhombic structure with a almost-equal-to b almost-equal-to 5.4 angstrom and c almost-equal-to 39.5 angstrom. The length of the b-axis decreases monotonically with increasing x. The space group for the basic structure is Abm2. The structure can be considered as an intergrowth of Bi2Sr2CuO6 lamellae with Sr2CuO2 (CO3) lamellae along the c-axis. CO3 groups behave as bridges connecting the CuO6 octahedra. In the x = 0 compound the carbon atoms are shifted away from their symmetry positions; the orientational ordering of the CO3 groups (or the carbon shift) in successive CO planes alternates along +b and -b. Typical Bi-type and Pb-type modulations are found along the b-axis up to a Pb content x = 0.5. Electron beam irradiation destroys the ordering of the CO3 groups and alters the modulated structure. (C) 1994 Academic press, inc.

Abstract: Five new layered cuprates, with a 1222-type structure, have been synthesized according to the formula (Hg(1-x)M(x))(Sr,Ba)(2) Pr2Cu2O9-delta with M = Pr, Pb, Pi, and Tl. They crystallize in a tetragonal cell with a approximate to a(p) and c approximate to 29.5 Angstrom; their structure consists in a triple intergrowth of oxygen-deficient perovskite, rock-salt-and fluorite-type layers. They are characterized by a mixed [Hg(1-x)M(x)O(1-delta)] layer in the rock-sail-type slice. The ED and HREM studies show that Tl, Bi, and Pb are statistically distributed in the mixed [Hg(1-x)M(x)O(1-delta)] layer, contrary to Pr which involves an ordering phenomenon along a. Different stacking defects are observed and discussed as well as the cleavage mode of the crystals. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.

Abstract: The magneto resistive perovskites Nd0.5Sr0.5MnO3 and Pr0.5Sr0.41Ca0.09MnO3 undergo a transition from anti ferromagnetic insulator to ferromagnetic metal as function of temperature. The room temperature phase is orthorhombic with the space group Imma and the cell parameters a approximate to root 2a(p), b approximate to 2a(p), and c approximate to root 2a(p). A structural phase transition related to charge ordering accompanying the transition from ferromagnetic state to antiferromagnetic state has been evidenced by low temperature electron diffraction. This transition is reversible and a new superstructure, with a P-type orthorhombic cell. and lattice parameters parameters a approximate to 2 root 2a(p), b approximate to 2a(p), and c approximate to root 2a(p), is formed.

Abstract: Structure determination of the fully intercalated phase Li12Mo5O17 and of the deintercalated oxide Li5Mo5O17 has been carried out by electron microscopy and neutron powder diffraction. The reversible topotactic transformation between the ordered rock salt structure of the former and the ribbon structure of the latter (closely related to that of Li4Mo5O17) is explained on the following basis: both structures can be described as strips built up as an assembly of infinite ribbons of MoO6 octahedra that are five octahedra thick, and that differ by slight displacements of the octahedral ribbons. We show that the electrochemical behavior of the LixMo5O17 system is based on two sorts of Li+ sites; those that are located within the strips between the ribbons, and those that are located at the border of the strips. The high rate of Li intercalation in this oxide and its reversibility are discussed in terms of its peculiar structure.

Abstract: Quintuple perovskites Sm2Ba3Fe5-xCoxO15-delta = 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5) have been prepared by glycerin-nitrate tech- nique in air. The phase purity was confirmed by XRD. Partial substitution of Co for Fe decreases the oxygen content and thus the mean oxidation state of 3d-metals. It also slightly decreases the thermal expansion coefficient of oxides. Positive value of the Seebeck coefficient confirmed p-type conductivity, though the thermopower decreases as the Co content increases. The temperature dependence of electrical conductivity reveals a maximum at 550-750 degrees C.

Abstract: The relationships between incommensurability, charge ordering and magnetotransport properties in Nd0.5Ca0.5Mn1-xCrxO3 manganites have been studied by electron diffraction and lattice imaging versus temperature with 0.02 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.07. All compositions show an incommensurate superstructure over the whole temperature domain, despite the fact that they are ferromagnetic and conductive below 140 K, The q-vector (1/2 – delta)a* decreases with increasing temperature for all compositions x. For a given temperature q also decreases with x. Lattice images obtained at low temperature give a clear view of the characteristics of the incommensurate structure. They also provide a better understanding of the charge ordering process. The low-temperature form of the Cr-doped manganites is not a perfectly doubled cell [[2a(p)root 2 x 2a(p) x a(p)root 2]], but defects inducing a tripled cell occur pseudo-periodically. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: A new mixed-valence ferrite, YBaFe4O7, has been synthesized. Its unique cubic structure, with a = 8.9595(2) Å, is closely related to that of the hexagonal 114 oxides YBaCo4O7 and CaBaFe4O7. It consists of corner-sharing FeO4 tetrahedra, forming triangular and kagome layers parallel to (111)C. In fact, the YBaFe4O7 and CaBaFe4O7 structures can be described as two different ccc and chch close packings of [BaO3]∞ and [O4]∞ layers, respectively, whose tetrahedral cavities are occupied by Fe2+/Fe3+ cations. The local structure of YBaFe4O7 is characterized by a large amount of stacking faults originating from the presence of hexagonal layers in the ccc cubic close-packed YBaFe4O7 structure. In this way, they belong to the large family of spinels and hexagonal ferrites studied for their magnetic properties. Differently from all the ferrites and especially from CaBaFe4O7, which are ferrimagnetic, YBaFe4O7 is an insulating spin glass with Tg = 50 K.

Abstract: The exploration of the Mn4+-rich side of the Pr1-xSrxMnO3 system has allowed the extension of the domain of the cubic perovskite, by using a two-step process, combining synthesis under Ar flow at high temperature and O-2 pressure annealing at lower temperature. We show that these Pr-doped cubic perovskites exhibit a coupled structural (cubic-tetragonal) and magnetic (para-antiferro) transition connected with a resistivity jump at the same temperature. The strong interplay between lattice, charges, and spins for these oxides results from the appearance at low temperature of the distorted C-type antiferromagnetic structure. The Pr1-xSrxMnO3 magnetic phase diagram shows, for 0.9 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 1 (i.e., on the Mn4+-rich side), the existence at low temperature of C- and G-type antiferromagnetism. The absence of ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic competition explains that magnetoresistante properties are not observed in this system, in contrast to Mn4+-rich Ln(1-x)Ca(x)MnO(3) systems.