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Title: Local structures of Sr{sub 2}FeMnO{sub 5+y} (y=0, 0.5) and Sr{sub 2}Fe{sub 1.5}Cr{sub 0.5}O{sub 5} from reverse Monte Carlo modeling of pair distribution function data and implications for magnetic order

Journal Article · · Journal of Solid State Chemistry
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [2]
  1. Lujan Neutron Scattering Center, Los Alamos National Laboratory, MS H805, Los Alamos, NM 87545 (United States)
  2. Department of Chemistry and Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4M1 (Canada)

The local structures of the oxygen deficient perovskites Sr{sub 2}FeMnO{sub 5}, Sr{sub 2}FeMnO{sub 5.5}, and Sr{sub 2}Fe{sub 1.5}Cr{sub 0.5}O{sub 5} have been analyzed using neutron pair distribution function data. The results show that locally all three structures are more complex than implied by their average cubic structures and that the distributions of oxygen vacancies are not completely random on a local level. For both Sr{sub 2}FeMnO{sub 5+y} compounds it is found that there is no short range ordering of the Fe and Mn cations. For Sr{sub 2}Fe{sub 1.5}Cr{sub 0.5}O{sub 5} there is evidence to suggest that the Fe/Cr distribution is not completely random and is locally ordered such that there are fewer Fe--Fe nearest neighbor pairs than in a random distribution. Reverse Monte Carlo modeling of the pair distribution function data has provided the Fe--O, Mn--O, and Cr--O bond length distributions and information on the coordination numbers of the Fe, Mn, and Cr cations. In Sr{sub 2}FeMnO{sub 5} it is found that the Fe{sup 3+} cations are most often in 4-fold coordination but there is also a large amount of Fe{sup 3+} in 5-fold coordination and a small amount in 6-fold coordination. The Mn{sup 3+} is split between 5-fold and 6-fold coordination. The Mn--O bond length distributions indicate that the Mn{sup 3+}O{sub 6} octahedra and Mn{sup 3+}O{sub 5} square pyramids are locally Jahn-Teller distorted. In Sr{sub 2}FeMnO{sub 5.5} the Fe{sup 3+} is almost entirely 5 coordinate while the Mn{sup 4+} is almost entirely 6 coordinate. The Cr{sup 3+} in Sr{sub 2}Fe{sub 1.5}Cr{sub 0.5}O{sub 5} is almost entirely 6-fold coordinated, giving the Fe{sup 3+} an average coordination number of 4.67. In Sr{sub 2}FeMnO{sub 5} and Sr{sub 2}Fe{sub 1.5}Cr{sub 0.5}O{sub 5} the Fe{sup 3+} and Sr{sup 2+} cations undergo local displacements which are driven by the oxygen vacancies, while the Mn{sup 3+} and Cr{sup 3+} cations remain near their positions in the average structures. In Sr{sub 2}FeMnO{sub 5.5} these cations are not significantly displaced. The local coordination geometries are used to explain previously observed but yet poorly understood magnetic properties of these materials. - Graphical abstract: The actual bond angle distributions in the cubic perovskite Sr{sub 2}FeMnO{sub 5} obtained from reverse Monte Carlo modeling of the local structure using neutron pair distribution function data. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer No long range ordering of oxygen vacancies, but short range order is present. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer No short range Fe/Mn order but short range Fe/Cr order is present. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Fe tends to have lower coordination numbers while Mn and Cr have higher ones. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Local bond distances and bond angles have been determined. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Local structures can help explain long range magnetic ordering behavior.

OSTI ID:
22150046
Journal Information:
Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Vol. 198; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0022-4596
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English