Ordered vs. disordered perovskites; structural studies of Fe-doped SrIrO3 and SrRuO3

Abstract

The structures of the two Fe containing perovskites Sr2IrFeO6 and SrRu0.5Fe0.5O3 have been established using a combination of synchrotron and neutron diffraction methods. Sr2IrFeO6 and SrRu0.5Fe0.5O3 are shown to be monoclinic I2/m and tetragonal I4/mcm respectively The former exhibits a rock-salt like ordering of the Fe and Ir cations and displays a sequence of phase transitions associated with the loss of the octahedral tilts upon heating; 12 / m → I 4 / m → F m 3 ¯ m . The Fe and Ru cations are disordered in SrRu0.5Fe0.5O3 and this shows a single structural phase transition upon heating due to the loss of the in-phase tilts, viz. I 4 / m c m → P m 3 ¯ m . In both cases XANES measurements show partial oxidation of the Fe3+ to Fe4+. The difference in the structures between the two is remarkable given the similar size of Ir5+ and Ru5+, and this is reflected in their magnetic properties. © 2013, Elsevier Ltd.