A Comparison of Order-Disorder in Several Families of Cubic Oxides

Abstract

Order-disorder on both cation and oxygen sites is a hallmark of fluorite-derived structures, including pyrochlores. Ordering can occur on long- and short-range scales and can result in persistent metastable states. In various cubic oxide systems, different types of disorder are seen. The purpose of this paper is to review and compare the types and energetics of order-disorder phenomena in several families of cubic oxides having pyrochlore, weberite, defect fluorite, perovskite, rocksalt, and spinel structures. The goal is to better understand how structure, composition, and thermodynamic parameters (enthalpy and entropy) determine the feasibility of different competing ordering processes and structures in these diverse systems.