Ferroelasticity of SrCo0.8Fe0.2O3–δperovskite-related oxide with mixed ion–electron conductivity

Abstract

A group-theoretical analysis was carried out to determine the possible orientation states of domains formed as a result of the `perovskite–brownmillerite' phase transition in SrCo0.8Fe0.2O2.5oxide with mixed ion–electron conductivity (MIEC). The results of the theoretical analysis agree with the experimental data obtained in the study of the SrCo0.8Fe0.2O2.5microstructure by means of transmission electron microscopy. Brownmillerite SrCo0.8Fe0.2O2.5(BM) has a lamellar texture composed of 90° twins 60–260 nm in size; the 〈010〉BMand 〈101〉BMdirections are linked through twinning in accordance with the predictions of the group-theoretical analysis. The presence of twins and their switching under mechanical load provide evidence that the perovskite–brownmillerite phase transition in SrCo0.8Fe0.2O2.5is ferroelastic. Comparative analysis of the phenomena observed for ferroelectrics and MIEC oxides indicates their similarity based on the common nature of ferroelectricity and ferroelasticity, and allows us to suppose that nonstoichiometric SrCo0.8Fe0.2O3−δwith compositional disorder may be considered (in terms of its microstructural features) a `relaxor ferroelastic'.