Synthesis of LaYbO3 perovskite through modified Pechini method: Structural, electric and magnetic characterization

Abstract

Single phase LaYbO3 lanthanide-based perovskite powder was synthesized by modified Pechini method, which is based on polyesterification of metal–citrate complexes in aqueous solution. Complexes were formed in aqueous solution and after polyalcohol addition and slow water evaporation, bond formation is allowed and a macroscopic polymeric network was produced, where cations are embedded and uniformly distributed. Finally, through several pyrolysis steps, microcrystalline oxide particles were obtained. Structural characterization was performed by means the powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The obtained patterns were indexed and refined to reveal that the LaYbO3 simple perovskite crystallizes in an orthorhombic structure, belonging to the Pnma (#62) space group, with lattice constants a = 6.0327 Å, b = 8.4138 Å and c = 5.8307 Å. Studies of electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy show that the LaYbO3 is free of impurities. Electric response was evaluated by electric polarization measurements as a function of applied electric fields. Obtained curves show evidence of a hysteretic behavior related with dielectric losses which are characteristics of insulator materials. From the saturation values of electric charge, the relative dielectric constant was determined to be 22.6. The magnetic behavior was examined by means of the curves of magnetic susceptibility as a function of temperature. The fit with the Curie equation is in agreement with a typical paramagnetic feature with effective magnetic moment [Formula: see text] = 4.9 [Formula: see text]B, which is close to the theoretical expected value from the Hund’s rules.