Structural properties of Fe-doped lanthanum gallate

Structural characteristics of Fe-doped LaGaO3-delta were studied by differential scanning calorimeter, neutron and high-temperature X-ray powder diffraction measurements. It was found that a phase transition temperature increases in proportion to an amount of Fe. The crystal structure could be described as a low-temperature orthorhombic phase (Pnma) and a high-temperature rhombohedral one (R3c), respectively. Lattice parameters and bond lengths between M (=Ga/Fe) and O are monotonically expand with increasing Fe-content on both orthorhombic and rhombohedral phases. This means that a substitution of Ga3+ with Fe3+ leads to an electronic configuration of t(2g)(3)e(g)(2) (high-spin state, HS). (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.