Structural characterization of SmMn2GeO7 single microcrystals by electron microscopy

Abstract

Single microcrystals of the new compound samarium dimanganese germanium oxide, SmMn2GeO7, were grown using the flux method in a double spherical mirror furnace (DSMF). The micrometric crystals were observed and chemically analysed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX). The structural characterization and chemical analysis of these crystals were also carried out using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), together with electron-energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). We found that the new quaternary compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic system with the point group mmm (D 2h ), space group Immm (No. 71) and cell parameters a = 8.30 (10), b = 8.18 (10), c = 8.22 (10) Å and V = 558.76 Å3.