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Title: New phases induced by hydrogen reduction and by subsequent oxidation of L sub 2 CuO sub 4 ( L =La,Pr,Nd,Sm,Eu,Gd)

Journal Article · · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA)
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Ames Laboratory-U.S. Department of Energy, Ames, IA (USA) Department ofPhysics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA (USA)

We report the synthesis of new compounds {ital L}{sub 2}CuO{sub 3.5} ({ital L}=Pr,Nd,Sm,Eu,Gd) and La{sub 2}CuO{sub 3.67}, obtained by heating conventionally prepared {ital L}{sub 2}CuO{sub 4} powders in a 5 mol % H{sub 2}/He atmosphere at low temperatures ({approx equal}300 {degree}C). The structures of the La, Pr, and Nd compounds appear related to that of Sr{sub 2}CuO{sub 3}, whereas those of the Sm, Eu, and Gd compounds are different. A new Nd{sub 2}CuO{sub 4}-type ({ital T}{prime}) La{sub 2}CuO{sub 4+{delta}} system was synthesized by oxidation of La{sub 2}CuO{sub 3.67} at 300--500 {degree}C; the oxygen contents are exceptionally high, ranging from 4.10 to 4.42. Annealing La{sub 2}CuO{sub 3.67} above 620 {degree}C in oxygen converts it to the original K{sub 2}NiF{sub 4}-type ({ital T}-phase) structure, but with excess oxygen (up to 4.06) and with smaller orthorhombicity compared to the La{sub 2}CuO{sub 4} starting material. Oxidation of the other {ital L}{sub 2}CuO{sub 3.5} phases ({ital L}=Pr,Nd,Sm,Eu,Gd) above 300 {degree}C leads to recovery of the original {ital T}{prime} structures, with oxygen contents ranging from 3.98 (Eu,Gd) to 4.03 (Nd). Magnetization measurements in a field of 50 G did not reveal superconductivity in any of the samples above 5 K.

OSTI ID:
6227270
Journal Information:
Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA), Vol. 42:10; ISSN 0163-1829
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English