The structural phase transition in the RECu6 compounds (RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd)

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-4596(90)90188-4· OSTI ID:6667549

Vrtis, M L ^[1]; Jorgensen, J D; Hinks, D G ^[2]

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1. Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (USA)
2. Agronne National Lab., IL (USA)

The structure of the RECu{sub 6} compounds (where RE = La, Ce, Pr and Nd) has been studied using time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction at temperatures ranging from 10 to 573 K. The compounds exhibit a temperature-dependent distortion of the high-temperature orthorhombic cell to a monoclinic one with transition temperatures between 151 and 455 K depending on the rare earth ion. The space groups and the temperature dependence of the monoclinic strain are consistent with a second-order transition driven by a soft acoustic phonon mode. Since the lanthanum compound with no 4f electron also exhibits the same transition, it is unlikely that electronic effects involving the 4f shell are responsible for the transition observed in these materials.

• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6667549
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Solid State Chemistry; (USA) Vol. 84:1; ISSN 0022-4596; ISSN JSSCB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360102* -- Metals & Alloys-- Structure & Phase Studies
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400200 -- Inorganic
Organic
& Physical Chemistry
CERIUM COMPOUNDS
DATA
DATA ANALYSIS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INFORMATION
LANTHANUM COMPOUNDS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEASURING METHODS
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
METALLURGY
NEODYMIUM COMPOUNDS
NUMERICAL DATA
PHASE STUDIES
POWDER METALLURGY
PRASEODYMIUM COMPOUNDS
RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS