Neutron powder diffraction study of the Nd(Ba1-xNdx)2Cu3O7+δ solid solution

• Published in: Solid state communications 2003, Vol.125 (2), p.89-94
• Main Authors: GALEZ, Ph, BERTRAND, Ch, LE ROY, J, SUARD, E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cuprates superconductors (high tc and insulating parent compounds); Exact sciences and technology; High-Tc compounds; Inorganic compounds; Materials and structures in mechanics; Mechanics; Neutron diffraction and scattering; Other cuprates; Physics; Single-crystal and powder diffraction; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Structure of specific crystalline solids; Superconductivity
• ISSN: 0038-1098; 1879-2766
• DOI: 10.1016/S0038-1098(02)00718-4

The Nd(Ba1−xNdx)2Cu3O7+δ solid solution, Nd123ss, has been investigated by neutron powder diffraction and Rietveld analysis. It is confirmed that the crystal structure of its Nd-rich limit, Nd(Ba0.55Nd0.45)2Cu3O7.33, is satisfactorily described in the space group Bmmm (a=7.7679(3), b=3.8542(1), and c=22.9590(9) Å). The fourfold superstructure with respect to the orthorhombic cell of YBCO is due to ordering between Ba and Nd atoms in the bridging layer. Differences with previous works concern exclusively the distribution of O atoms in the ‘chain' layer. Our results give strong indications that ordering also occurs for lower Nd contents.