Effect of isovalent substitution on the crystal structure and properties of two-slab indates BaLa2−xSmxIn2O7

Abstract

AbstractExploring the effect of isomorphic substitution of atoms on crystal structure and features of oxide compounds is one of the main tasks of modern materials science. This paper deals with the La/Sm isovalent substitution in a two-slab perovskite-like BaLa2In2O7 structure and its effect on the structural features and magnetic properties of BaLa2−xSmxIn2O7 indates synthesized. A complete characterization including data of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), structural calculations (Rietveld method), second optical harmonic generation of the laser radiation, calculations of valence bond sums (VBS), and magnetic susceptibility data of phases obtained is presented. The existence region of BaLa2−xSmxIn2O7 solid solutions with a two-slab perovskite-like structure (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.8) was established, and their coordinate parameters were refined. The character of barium and RE atoms distribution in BaLa2−xSmxIn2O7 structure has determined, and the correlation between substitution degree of lanthanum atoms and the length of Ln–O2 interblock distance has revealed. The magnetic properties of BaLa2−xSmxIn2O7 were considered in terms of the crystal field effect.