Correlation between the spin state and the crystal structure in La(Co,Rh)O3
Perovskite oxides with the formula of ABO3 possess a very simple crystal structure consisting of oxygen octahedra BO6. The electrical and magnetic properties, in contrast, are highly complicated because of the spin and orbital degrees of freedom of the d electrons as well as their strong coupling with the lattice system. We have recently focused on the perovskite LaCoO3, in which a microscopic picture for the spin state remains to be clarified so far, and have revealed the substitution effect on the magnetic property with using non-magnetic ions such as Rh and Ga. In the present study, we examine the substitution effect on the structural property through the synchrotron radiation X-ray and neutron diffraction measurements. The observed CoO6 octahedron shape and the lattice volume, which are susceptible to the spin/orbital state, are well explained with a high and low spin mixing model, providing a microscopic view for the spin state of La(Co,Rh)O3.
"Spin State of Co3+ in LaCo1-xRhxO3 Investigated by Structural Phenomena"
by Shinichiro Asai, Ryuji Okazaki, Ichiro Terasaki, Yukio Yasui, Wataru Kobayashi, Akiko Nakao, Kensuke Kobayashi, Reiji Kumai, Hironori Nakao, Youichi Murakami, Naoki Igawa, Akinori Hoshikawa, Toru Ishigaki, Outi Parkkima, Maarit Karppinen, Hisao Yamauchi
J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 82 (2013) 114606.
arXiv:1309.0658.
(Figure) Crystal structure and spin states in LaCoO3.