Multi-scale structural analysis of the A-site and oxygen deficient perovskite Sr11Mo4O23

Synthesis conditions impact on Sr11Mo4O23 electroceramic: crystal structure, stability and transport properties

Crystal structure and properties of Sr₁₁Mo₄O₂₃ treated at 1100 and 1400 °C were studied via synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis, coupled with mass spectrometry. Synchrotron studies reveal the crystallographic effect of the annealing temperature, showing that the lowest-temperature phase must be defined in a triclinic symmetry, in contrast to the cubic one obtained at 1400 °C. The mass spectrometry allowed the identification of the released compounds during the thermogravimetric analysis, thus unveiling the physicochemical behavior of the sample during the heating process. Furthermore, an aging analysis was made, confirming the superior stability of this sample when it is treated at 1400 °C. Finally, an optimized sintering procedure allowed us to obtain a superior density and hence the highest conductivity measured so far for this system.

New examples of non-cooperative octahedral tilting in a double perovskite: phase transitions in K3GaF6

The crystal structures of three polymorphs of K₃GaF₆ and the transition temperatures between these phases are reported for the first time. Synchrotron powder diffraction data clearly show that at 300 K α-K₃GaF₆ crystallizes in space group I4₁/a with lattice parameters of a = 19.1124 (3) Å, c = 34.4165 (6) Å, and Z = 80. The structure is based on the double perovskite but with two fifths of the GaF₆ octahedra rotated by ∼45°. This phase remains stable until ∼460 K, above which it undergoes a transition to I4/m with lattice parameters of a = 13.6088 (4) Å, c = 8.6764 (3) Å, and Z = 10 at 485 K. β-K₃GaF₆ has a similar structure but with only one fifth of the GaF₆ rotated by ∼45°. Above ∼510 K, the cubic Fm3m δ-K₃GaF₆ structure is stabilized, with a lattice parameter of a = 8.6649 (1) Å at 550 K. The F atoms have highly anisotropic displacement parameters which suggest dynamic octahedral tilting is occurring. This work expands the fairly small group of double perovskite compounds which display non-cooperative patterns of octahedral tilting.