Neutron Diffraction Study of La3Ni2O7: Structural Relationships Among n=1, 2, and 3 Phases Lan+1NinO3n+1

• Published in: Journal of solid state chemistry Vol. 152; no. 2; pp. 517 - 525
• Main Authors: Ling, Christopher D., Argyriou, Dimitri N., Wu, Guoqing, Neumeier, J.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01-07-2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Conductivity phenomena in semiconductors and insulators; Electronic transport in condensed matter; Exact sciences and technology; Inorganic compounds; Low-field transport and mobility; piezoresistance; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetically ordered materials: other intrinsic properties; Physics; Saturation moments and magnetic susceptibilities; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Structure of specific crystalline solids; Water, oxides, hydroxides, peroxides; Nickel oxides; Lanthanum oxides; Inorganic compounds; Electrical conductivity; Phase transformations; Neutron diffraction; Transition element compounds; Time-of-flight method; Rare earth compounds; Experimental study; Nonstoichiometry; Magnetic susceptibility; Solid solutions; Chemical composition; Crystal structure
• ISSN: 0022-4596; 1095-726X
• DOI: 10.1006/jssc.2000.8721

Structural relationships among the n=1, 2, and 3 members of the Ruddlesden–Popper series Lan+1NinO3n+1 are used to predict a lowering of symmetry in the n=2 phase, subsequently observed and refined against neutron powder diffraction data. Resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements are presented for n=2 and 3 that suggest the possibility of a further symmetry lowering at low temperature, such as occurs for n=1; however, no evidence for this is found in low-temperature neutron data. Re-refinement of the n=3 phase reveals significant strain within the perovskite-type layers that appears to increase with n. This strain is used to explain the absence of low temperature phase transformations for n>1. In the absence of a phase transformation, possible origins for the resistivity and susceptibility anomalies are considered.