Microdomain Formation,Oxidation, and Cation Ordering in LaCa2Fe3O8+y |
| |
| Authors: | Patrick M Price Nigel D Browning Darryl P Butt |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho;2. Fundamental and Computational Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington;3. Center for Advanced Energy Studies, Idaho Falls, Idaho |
| |
| Abstract: | The compound LaCa2Fe3O8+y, also known as the Grenier phase, is known to undergo an order–disorder transformation (ODT) at high temperatures and oxidation has been observed when the compound is cooled in air after the ODT. In this study, we have synthesized the Grenier compound in air using traditional solid‐state reactions and investigated the structure and composition before and after the ODT. Thermal analysis showed that the material undergoes an ODT in both oxygen and argon atmospheres with dynamic, temperature dependent, oxidation upon cooling. Results from scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) suggest that the Grenier phase has preferential segregation of Ca and La on the two crystallographic A sites before the ODT, but a random distribution above the ODT temperature. Furthermore, STEM images suggest the possibility that oxygen excess may exist in La‐rich regions within microdomains rather than at microdomain boundaries. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
