Abstract: We demonstrate for the first time a possibility to vary the anion content in perovskites over a wide range through a long-range-ordered arrangement of crystallographic shear (CS) planes. Anion-deficient perovskites (Pb,Bi)1−xFe1+xO3−y with incommensurately modulated structures were prepared as single phases in the compositional range from Pb0.857Bi0.094Fe1.049O2.572 to Pb0.409Bi0.567Fe1.025O2.796. Using a combination of electron diffraction and high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, we constructed a superspace model describing a periodic arrangement of the CS planes. The model was verified by refinement of the Pb0.64Bi0.32Fe1.04O2.675 crystal structure from neutron powder diffraction data ((3 + 1)D S.G. X2/m(α0γ), X = [1/2,1/2,1/2,1/2], a = 3.9082(1) Å, b = 3.90333(8) Å, c = 4.0900(1) Å, β = 91.936(2)°, q = 0.05013(4)a* + 0.09170(3)c* at T = 700 K, RP = 0.036, RwP = 0.048). The (Pb,Bi)1−xFe1+xO3−y structures consist of perovskite blocks separated by CS planes confined to nearly the (509)p perovskite plane. Along the CS planes, the perovskite blocks are shifted with respect to each other over the 1/2[110]p vector that transforms the corner-sharing connectivity of the FeO6 octahedra in the perovskite framework to an edge-sharing connectivity of the FeO5 pyramids at the CS plane, thus reducing the oxygen content. Variation of the chemical composition in the (Pb,Bi)1−xFe1+xO3−y series occurs mainly because of a changing thickness of the perovskite block between the interfaces, that can be expressed through the components of the q vector as Pb6γ+2αBi1−7γ−αFe1+γ−αO3−3γ−α. The Pb, Bi, and Fe atoms are subjected to strong displacements occurring in antiparallel directions on both sides of the perovskite blocks, resulting in an antiferroelectric-type structure. This is corroborated by the temperature-, frequency-, and field-dependent complex permittivity measurements. Pb0.64Bi0.32Fe1.04O2.675 demonstrates a remarkably high resistivity >0.1 T Ω cm at room temperature and orders antiferromagnetically below TN = 608(10) K.

Abstract: The crystal structure of the Sr2Fe2O5 brownmillerite has been investigated using electron diffraction and high resolution electron microscopy. The Sr2Fe2O5 structure demonstrates two-dimensional order: the tetrahedral chains with two mirror-related configurations (L and R) are arranged within the tetrahedral layers according to the −L−R−L−R− sequence, and the layers themselves are displaced with respect to each other over 1/2[111] or 1/2[11] vectors of the brownmillerite unit cell, resulting in different ordered stacking variants. A unified superspace model is constructed for ordered stacking sequences in brownmillerites based on the average brownmillerite structure with a = 5.5298(4)Å, b = 15.5875(12)Å, c = 5.6687(4)Å, and (3 + 1)-dimensional superspace group I2/m(0βγ)0s, q = βb* + γc*, 0 ≤ β ≤ 1/2, 0 ≤ γ ≤ 1.

Abstract: The crystal structure of α-K3AlF6 was solved and refined from a combination of powder X-ray and neutron diffraction data (a = 18.8385(3)Å, c = 33.9644(6)Å, S.G. I41/a, Z = 80, RP(X-ray) = 0.037, RP(neutron) = 0.053). The crystal structure is of the A2BB′X6 elpasolite type with the a = b ≈ ae√5, c = 4ae superstructure (ae, parameter of the elpasolite subcell) and rock-salt-type ordering of the K and Al cations over the B and B′ positions, respectively. The remarkable feature of α-K3AlF6 is a rotation of 2/5 of the AlF6 octahedra by π/4 around one of the crystal axes of the elpasolite subcell, coinciding with the 4-fold symmetry axes of the AlF6 octahedra. The rotation of the AlF6 octahedra replaces the corner-sharing between the K and Al polyhedra by edge-sharing, resulting in an increase of coordination numbers of the K cations at the B positions up to 7 and 8. Due to significant deformations of the K polyhedra, the corner-sharing connectivity of the octahedral elpasolite framework is broken and the rotations of the AlF6 octahedra do not have a cooperative character. Elpasolites and double perovskites with similar structural organization are discussed. The difference in ionic radii of the B and B′ cations as well as the tolerance factor are proposed to be the parameters governing the formation of elpasolites and double perovskites with broken corner-sharing connectivity of the octahedral framework.

Abstract: The nuclear and magnetic structure of a novel oxychloride Pb4BiFe4O11Cl has been studied over the temperature range 1.5700 K using a combination of transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron and neutron powder diffraction [space group P4/mbm, a = 5.5311(1) Å, c = 19.586(1) Å, T = 300 K]. Pb4BiFe4O11Cl is built of truncated (Pb,Bi)3Fe4O11 quadruple perovskite blocks separated by CsCl-type (Pb,Bi)2Cl slabs. The perovskite blocks consist of two layers of FeO6 octahedra located between two layers of FeO5 tetragonal pyramids. The FeO6 octahedra rotate about the c axis, resulting in a √2ap × √2ap × c superstructure. Below TN = 595(17) K, Pb4BiFe4O11Cl adopts a G-type antiferromagnetic structure with the iron magnetic moments confined to the ab plane. The ordered magnetic moments at 1.5 K are 3.93(3) and 3.62(4) μB on the octahedral and square-pyramidal iron sites, respectively. Pb4BiFe4O11Cl can be considered a member of the perovskite-based An+1BnO3n1Cl homologous series (A = Pb/Bi; B = Fe) with n = 4. The formation of a subsequent member of the series with n = 5 is also demonstrated.

Abstract: Novel anion-deficient perovskite-based ferrites Pb2Ba2BiFe5O13 and Pb1.5Ba2.5Bi2Fe6O16 were synthesized by solid-state reaction in air. Pb2Ba2BiFe5O13 and Pb1.5Ba2.5Bi2Fe6O16 belong to the perovskite-based AnBnO3n2 homologous series with n = 5 and 6, respectively, with a unit cell related to the perovskite subcell ap as ap√2 × ap × nap√2. Their structures are derived from the perovskite one by slicing it with 1/2[110]p(1̅01)p crystallographic shear (CS) planes. The CS operation results in (1̅01)p-shaped perovskite blocks with a thickness of (n 2) FeO6 octahedra connected to each other through double chains of edge-sharing FeO5 distorted tetragonal pyramids which can adopt two distinct mirror-related configurations. Ordering of chains with a different configuration provides an extra level of structure complexity. Above T ≈ 750 K for Pb2Ba2BiFe5O13 and T ≈ 400 K for Pb1.5Ba2.5Bi2Fe6O16 the chains have a disordered arrangement. On cooling, a second-order structural phase transition to the ordered state occurs in both compounds. Symmetry changes upon phase transition are analyzed using a combination of superspace crystallography and group theory approach. Correlations between the chain ordering pattern and octahedral tilting in the perovskite blocks are discussed. Pb2Ba2BiFe5O13 and Pb1.5Ba2.5Bi2Fe6O16 undergo a transition into an antiferromagnetically (AFM) ordered state, which is characterized by a G-type AFM ordering of the Fe magnetic moments within the perovskite blocks. The AFM perovskite blocks are stacked along the CS planes producing alternating FM and AFM-aligned FeFe pairs. In spite of the apparent frustration of the magnetic coupling between the perovskite blocks, all n = 4, 5, 6 AnFenO3n2 (A = Pb, Bi, Ba) feature robust antiferromagnetism with similar Néel temperatures of 623632 K.

Abstract: Tetrahedral chain ordering in the Sr2MnGaO5 structure is studied using electron diffraction (ED) and high-resolution electron microscopy. The ED patterns show the presence of satellite reflections, which indicate a commensurately modulated structure with a = 5.4056(8) Angstrom b 16.171(3) Angstrom, c = 5.5592(7) Angstrom, q – 1/2c*, superspace group Immma(00gamma,)s00. The Superstructure arises due to ordering of the two types of symmetry related tetrahedral chains (L and R) according to a ... LRLR ... sequence, where L and R chains alternate along the c-axis within the same (GaO) layer. Numerous defects at different structural levels were observed, comprising interleaving L and R chains, violation of the ... LRLR ... chain sequence within one layer, different stacking modes of the ... LRLR ... ordered layers with subsequent alternation of blocks of different width along the h-axis of the brownmillerite subcell and island fragmentation of the modulated superstructure. By in situ heating ED experiments it is found that the long-range ordering of the tetrahedral chains is stable tip to 665degreesC and is completely suppressed at 905degreesC. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Abstract: A novel anion-deficient perovskite-based compound, Pb2.4Ba2.6Fe2Sc2TiO13, was synthesized via the citrate-based route. This compound is an n = 5 member of the A(n)B(n)O(3n-2) homologous series with unit-cell parameters related to the perovskite subcell a(p) approximate to 4.0 angstrom as a(p)root 2 x a(p) x 5a(p)root 2. The crystal structure of Pb2.4Ba2.6Fe2Sc2TiO13 consists of quasi-2D perovskite blocks with a thickness of three octahedral layers separated by the 1/2[110]((1) over bar 01)(p) crystallographic shear (CS) planes, which are parallel to the {110} plane of the perovskite subcell. The CS planes transform the corner-sharing octahedra into chains of edge-sharing distorted tetragonal pyramids. Using a combination of neutron powder diffraction, Fe-57 Mossbauer spectroscopy and atomic resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy we demonstrate that the B-cations in Pb2.4Ba2.6Fe2Sc2TiO13 are ordered along the {110} perovskite layers with Fe3+ in distorted tetragonal pyramids along the CS planes, Ti4+ preferentially in the central octahedra of the perovskite blocks and Sc3+ in the outer octahedra of the perovskite blocks. Magnetic susceptibility and Mossbauer spectroscopy indicate a broadened magnetic transition around T-N similar to 45 K and the onset of local magnetic fields at low temperatures. The magnetic order is probably reminiscent of that in other A(n)B(n)O(3n-2) homologues, where G-type AFM order within the perovskite blocks has been observed.

Abstract: Pb2Ba2BiFe4ScO13, a new n = 5 member of the oxygen-deficient perovskite-based A(n)B(n)O(3n-2) homologous series, was synthesized using a solid-state method. The crystal structure of Pb2Ba2BiFe4ScO13 was investigated by a combination of synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, electron diffraction, high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy and Mossbauer spectroscopy. At 900 K, it crystallizes in the Ammm space group with the unit cell parameters a = 5.8459(1) angstrom, b = 4.0426(1) angstrom, and c=27.3435(1) angstrom. In the Pb2Ba2BiFe4ScO13 structure, quasi-two-dimensional perovskite blocks are periodically interleaved with 1/2[1 1 0] ((1) over bar 0 1)(p) crystallographic shear (CS) planes. At the CS planes, the corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra are transformed into chains of edge-sharing FeO5 distorted tetragonal pyramids. B-positions of the perovskite blocks between the CS planes are jointly occupied by Fe3+ and Sc3+. The chains of the FeO5 pyramids and (Fe,Sc)O-6 octahedra delimit six-sided tunnels that are occupied by double columns of cations with a lone electron pair (Pb2+). The remaining A-cations (Bi3+, Ba2+) occupy positions in the perovskite block. According to the magnetic susceptibility measurements, Pb2Ba2BiFe4ScO13 is antiferromagnetically ordered below T-N approximate to 350 K. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.