Perovskites, ABX₃, and their associated solid-solutions are a particularly important and attractive area of research within materials chemistry. Owing to their structural and compositional flexibility and potential physical properties they are one of the largest classes of materials currently under investigation. This thesis is concerned with the synthesis and structural characterisation of several perovskite-based materials using a combined approach of high-resolution synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffraction (NPD), solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and first-principles Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. Initial investigations concentrated on room temperature NaNbO₃, a perovskite widely debated in the literatue. Published crystallographic data indicate NaNbO₃ possesses two crystallographically distinct Na sites in space group Pbcm. Whilst some of our materials appear in agreement with this (notably a commercially purchased sample) many of our laboratory-synthesised samples of NaNbO₃ routinely comprise of two phases, which we show to be the antiferroelectric Pbcm and polar P2₁ma polymorphs. Several different synthetic methods were utilised during this investigation and the quantity of each phase present was found to vary as a function of preparative method. ²³Na, ⁹³Nb and ¹⁷O DFT calculations were used in conjunction with experiment to aid in spectral analysis, assignment and interpretation. In addition, ab initio random structure searching (AIRSS) was utilised in an attempt to predict the most stable phases of NaNbO₃. This proved to be both successful and highly informative. A series of NaNbO₃-related solid-solutions, namely K[subscript(x)]Na[subscript(1-x)]NbO₃ (KNN), Li[subscript(x)]Na[subscript(1-x)]NbO₃ (LNN) and Na[subscript(1-x)]Sr[subscript(x/2)]□[subscript(x/2)]NbO₃ (SNN) have also been synthesised and characterised. The substitution of K⁺ , Li⁺ and Sr²⁺ cations onto the A site appears to produce the same polar P2₁ma phase initially identified in the room temperature NaNbO₃ investigation. The abrupt change in cation size in the KNN and LNN series, and the introduction of vacancies in the SNN series, is thought to result in a structural distortion which, in turn, causes the formation of the P2₁ma phase. A low temperature synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction study (12 < T < 295 K) was completed for a sample of NaNbO₁ composed of the P2₁ma polymorph (~90%) and a small quantity of the Pbcm phase (~10%). A region of phase coexistence was identified between the P2₁ma, R3c and Pbcm phases over a relatively large temperature range. Full conversion of the P2₁ma phase to the low temperature R3c phase was not possible and, consistently, the P2₁ma phase was the most abundant phase present. Factors such as structural, strain, crystallite size and morphology are thought to be crucial in determining the exact phases of NaNbO₃ produced, both at low and room temperature. The solid-solution La[subscript(1-x)]Y[subscript(x)]ScO₃ was also investigated. Compositions x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1 were successfully synthesised and characterised. Refined high-resolution NPD data indicates that an orthorhombic structure, in space group Pbnm, was retained throughout the solid-solution. Using ⁴⁵Sc and ⁸⁹Y MAS NMR each sample was found to exhibit disorder, believed to result from both a distribution of quadrupole and chemical shifts. NMR parameters were calculated for several model Sc and Y compounds using DFT methods to determine the feasibility and accuracy of ⁴⁵Sc and ⁸⁹Y DFT calculations. These proved successful and subsequent calculations were completed for the end members LaScO₃ and YScO₃. DFT calculations were also utilised to gain insight into the disorder exhibited in the La[subscript(1-x)]Y[subscript(x)]ScO₃ solid-solution.

Abstract not available

Cette thèse concerne l'étude structurale d'oxydes cristallins à stœchiométrie en oxygène variable. La méthode de synthèse de gros monocristaux est présentée en détail. Ces matériaux présentent une structure atomique en couche entre lesquelles des ions oxygènes peuvent être intercalés de manière topotactique par différentes méthodes, aussi bien par électrochimie à l'ambiante que par traitement thermique sous atmosphère et pression contrôlée. L'insertion d'oxygène entre les couches ne se fait pas aléatoirement mais ces atomes excédentaires restent ordonnés à longue distance et provoquent des distorsions du réseau cristallin par effet stérique. La structure atomique devient modulée par l'occupation des sites interstitiels et par les déplacements des atomes environnants. La structure réelle des composés riches en oxygène a été étudiée par diffraction des neutrons et des rayons-X synchrotron. La reconstruction des plans du réseau réciproque a permis de mesurer précisément la position et l'intensité de chaque réflexion satellite. L'application de la méthode de maximum d'entropie a permis la reconstruction des densités nucléaires avec une haute précision, ce qui favorise la visualisation des déplacements atomiques courts, et donne alors une meilleure connaissance de la structure cristalline réelle. Les transitions de phase en température ont également été étudiées par diffraction et par thermogravimétrie, montrant que la quantité d'oxygène intercalés varie spontanément avec la température, et, contre toute attente, que les phases restent modulées jusqu'à des hautes températures. La diffusion des ions oxygènes dans le réseau hôte aux températures modérées pourrait être amplifiée par l'occurrence de phonons spécifiques impliquant le tilt rigide des octaèdres composant le cristal.

Orientador: Carlos Manuel Giles Antunez de Mayolo / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T10:39:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mardegan_JoseRenatoLinares_D.pdf: 36952737 bytes, checksum: f4575564084534b7dbe8742d9ea0a7b8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: Nesta tese foram investigados as propriedades eletrônicas e magnéticas de diversos compostos que apresentam suas estruturas formadas por gaiolas na qual estas apresentam átomos hospedes no seu interior. Os compostos estudados foram o clatrato tipo-I Eu8Ga16Ge30, o composto fase cúbica de Remeika Eu3Ir4Sn13 e por m os compostos de GdT2Zn20 com T = Fe e Co. As propriedades destes materiais foram investigadas através do uso de medidas macroscópicas como resistividade elétrica, susceptibilidade magnética e também por medidas microscópicas como técnicas de absorção e espalhamento de raios-X e difração de nêutrons. O clarão Eu8Ga16Ge30, formado por dois tipos de gaiolas (X20 - dodecaedral e X24 - tetrakaidecaedral), foi principalmente investigado por difração e absorção de raios-X. Essas técnicas foram conciliadas com a aplicação de altas pressões na qual observou-se uma transição de fase irreversível cristalina-amorfa ao redor de Pa = 18 GPa. Concomitantemente a mudança estrutural, observou-se também através do dicroísmo circular magnético um colapso do ordenamento ferromagnético (FM) sob pressão. A diminuição do sinal magnético em altas pressões pode ser explicado por um estado paramagnético ou de "spin glass\", já que o íon de Eu permanece com valência 2+. Essa transição de fase estrutural foi vinculada a uma instabilidade mecânica das gaiolas devido a anisotropia criada pelo o íon hospede de Eu que esta deslocado cerca de 0.44 A do centro da gaiola X24. Além disso, a baixa pressão para que o material se transforme amorfo (~18 GPa) em comparação com outros clatratos isoestruturais confirma que o íon hospede no interior das gaiolas tem um forte papel na instabilidade mecânica das gaiolas. A estrutura e o magnetismo do composto tipo fase cúbica de Remeika Eu3Ir4Sn13 foi investigada através do uso do espalhamento de raios-X e nêutrons. A partir dos dados de espalhamento pudemos determinar que a anomalia ocorrida em T* ~ 57.1K observada no calor especifico e na resistividade elétrica e originaria de uma mudança estrutural. Esta distorção causa uma perda de simetria fazendo com que a nova célula unitária seja dobrada em duas direções, na qual pode-se observar picos com um vetor de propagação do tipo q = (0; 1/2 ; 1/2 ) em medidas com monocristais. A distorção estrutural está relacionada com uma forte hibridização dos ons presentes na gaiola de Ir(Sn2)6 o que aumenta a densidade eletrônica mudando a banda próximo do nível de Fermi e é fortemente dependente do metal de transição presente na amostra. A estrutura magnética do composto foi investigada através da difração de nêutrons, na qual abaixo de TN = 10.1 K observaram-se picos magnéticos do tipo ? = (0; 1/ 2 ; 1 /2 ). Com o refinamento das reflexões magnéticas encontramos que os momentos magnéticos dos ons de Eu estão apontados ao longo das direções [110] e [111]. Os compostos cúbicos de GdT2Zn20 com T = Fe e Co também foram investigados a partir de técnicas de difração e absorção de raios-X. Esses materiais tem importantes propriedades e muitas delas são decorrentes das interações que ocorrem entre os elementos terras raras mediadas pelos metais de transição. Tanto os ons de Gd quanto os ons de Co e Fe têm seus primeiros e segundos vizinhos formados por Zn. O composto de GdCo2Zn20 apresentou uma transição de fase de um estado paramagnético (PM) para um estado antiferromagnético (AFM) com uma temperatura de Néel ao redor de TN = 5.72 K. Utilizando a técnica de espalhamento magnético ressonante nos determinamos que os momentos dos ons de Gd estão alinhados perpendicularmente a direção [111], i.e., a representação magnética ?5. Essa direção do momento magnético tem forte influência da simetria do cristal e do fato do Gd ter momento angular nulo. Quando o metal de transição foi substituído por T = Fe, o composto de GdFe2Zn20 apresentou um ordenamento FM com uma alta temperatura crítica ao redor de TC = 86 K. As medidas de dicroísmo circular magnético realizadas ao redor das bordas de absorção L\'s do elemento terra rara e ao redor da borda K dos metais de transição (Fe e Zn) revelaram que tanto os ons de Gd quanto os ons de Zn apresentam momento magnético, entretanto, nenhum sinal magnético foi observado nos ons de Fe. O sinal magnético na borda do Zn ocorre devido à forte polarização entre as bandas 4sp do Zn com as bandas 5spd do íon de Gd. Acreditamos que a alta temperatura de ordenamento observada no composto FM esta correlacionada com uma alta densidade de estados próximo ao nível de Fermi devido aos ons de Fe, já a indução do momento magnético nos ons de Zn se deve a uma forte interação de troca entre os ons de Gd que polariza o meio / Abstract: In this thesis we have investigated the electronic and magnetic properties of several compounds in which they have the structure compose by cages. The compounds studied in this work were the clathrate type-I Eu8Ga16Ge30, the Remeika cubic phase Eu3Ir4Sn13 and the compounds GdT2Zn20 with T = Fe and Co. The electronic and magnetic properties of these materials were investigated using macroscopic measurements such as electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements as well as microscopic techniques, such as X-ray absorption and scattering, and also neutron diffraction. The clathrate compound Eu8Ga16Ge30 formed by two types of cages (X20 ¿ dodecahedral X24 - tetrakaidecahedral) was mainly investigated by diffraction and X-rays absorption measurements. To better understand the eletronic and magnetic properties, the compound was investigated under high pressure in which we observed an irreversible crystalline-amorphous phase transition around Pa = 18 GPa. Simultaneously with structural change, it was observed by magnetic circular dichroism a collapse of the ferromagnetic (FM) ordering. This phase transition was associated with a mechanical instability in the cages due to an anisotropy created by the Eu ions rattling and displaced o center. Furthermore, this low pressure amorphization for the Eu8Ga16Ge30 compared with other isostructural clathrate compound confirms that the guest ion inside the cages has a strong role in the electronic and magnetic properties. The structure and magnetism of the Remeika cubic phase Eu3Ir4Sn13 was investigated by X-rays and neutrons scattering measurements. From these measurements we gured out that the anomaly at T 57.1 K observed in the specific heat and electrical resistivity measurements is related to a structural distortion. This distortion causes a loss of symmetry, in which one can observe new structural reflections with a propagation vector type q = (0; 1/2 ; 1/2 ). The structural distortion is related to a strong hybridization between the Ir and Sn2 ions in the Ir(Sn2)6 cages. This hybridization increases the electronic density of states near the Fermi level and it is strongly dependent on the transition metal. The magnetic structure was investigated by neutron diffraction, in which we observed magnetic Bragg peaks with a propagation vector type ? = (0; 1/2 ; 1/2 ) below TN = 10.1 K. Using several magnetic reflections we can determine the magnetic structure. From the refinement we found that the magnetic moments of Eu ions are pointing out along the [110] and [111] directions. The GdT2Zn20 cubic compound with T = Fe and Co were also investigated with diffraction and X-rays absorption measurements. These two compounds have interesting properties and many of them are due to the rare earth and transition metals elements are immersed in a sea of Zn ions. Both rare earth as well as the transition metals (Co and Fe) have the first and second neighbors formed by Zn ions. The GdCo2Zn20 compound showed a phase transition from a paramagnetic state (PM) to an antiferromagnetic state (AFM) with a Neel temperature around TN ~ 5.72 = K. Using x-ray resonant magnetic scattering technique we solved the magnetic structure and we found the magnetic moments of the Gd ions aligned perpendicular to the [111] direction, i.e., IR ?5. When the transition metal was replaced by T = Fe, the GdFe2Zn20 compound has a FM ordering with a remarkably high-temperature ferromagnetic (TC = 86 K) state. The X-ray magnetic circular dichroism measurements performed at the L2;3 absorption edges of the rare earth element and at the Fe and Zn K edges showed that only the Gd and Zn carry magnetic moment in this compound. The magnetic signal at the Zn K edge is due to the strong hybridization between the Zn 4sp states with the Gd 5d states. We believe that the high ordering temperature is related to a high density of states near the Fermi level and the magnetic moment induced at the Zn ions is due to the strong interaction among the Gd ions / Doutorado / Física / Doutor em Ciências

No description available.

Ce travail est relatif à la synthèse et à la caractérisation d’oxydes mixtes Pr1-zCezO2-y et Pr1-xZrxO2-y. Différentes compositions chimiques associées à une valence mixte Pr4+/Pr3+ concomitant à un taux précis de lacunes d’oxygènes ont été isolées tant pour les composés à l’état oxydé que pour ces derniers réduits sous Ar/H2. A l’état réduit, différentes surstructures de la maille fluorine ont été caractérisées par diffraction des RX et de neutrons. Sur la base de mesures magnétiques, d’analyses par spectroscopie d’absorption X (XANES-EXAFS) aux seuils K du Zr et LIII du Ce/Pr et d’analyses thermogravimétriques et/ou TPR (Temperature Programmed Reduction), les évolutions des taux de Pr4+/Pr3+ dans cette série ont été déterminées. Enfin, des mesures in-situ sous atmosphère réductrice par diffraction de neutrons et EELS (Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy) ont été réalisées dans l’objectif de corréler compositions chimiques- édifices structuraux et propriétés de réductibilité. / This work deals with the synthesis and the characterization of Pr1-zCezO2-y and Pr1-xZrxO2-y oxides. Various chemical compositions associated with mixed valence state Pr4+/Pr3+ concomitant to precise oxygen vacancies rate were isolated for compounds in both oxidized and reduced compounds. In the reduced state, different superstructures of the fluorine network were characterized by X-ray and neutrons diffraction. On the basis of magnetic measurements, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES-EXAFS) at Zr K-edge and Pr and Ce LII/III-edges and the thermogravimetric analyses and\or TPR (Temperature Programmed Reduction), evolutions of Pr4+/Pr3+ rates in this series were estimated. Finally, in-situ measurements under reducing atmosphere by neutrons diffraction and EELS (Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy) were realized to correlate chemical compositions- structural features and reducibility properties.