A Structural Investigation of T’-Pr2-xCexCuO4 nanocrystals with x = 0.13

Abstract

This report is briefly investigating the structural defect information of T’-Pr 2- x Ce x CuO 4 (T’-PCCO) nanocrystals with x = 0.13 at three different calcination temperatures. The as-synthesized powder of Pr 2- x Ce x CuO 4 (PCCO) nanocrystals with x = 0.13 were synthesized by using the chemically dissolved method within three different calcination temperatures, namely 900 o C, 950 o C, and 1000 o C for 15 h in air. X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique is used to characterize the phase, structural, and crystalline defect information on the nanocrystal powder. It is found that all the indexed peaks are confirmed as PCCO phase with space group of I4/mmm and a minor impurity of Fm-3m space group. The lattice parameters are confirmed to be fluctuated signifying the stability of the Coulomb force at those temperatures. The post-Rietveld analysis using Bond Valance Sum (BVS) calculation shows the Ce-dependent of T’-PCCO nanocrystals while the Fourier difference suggests that the created crystalline defect as a part of the tetravalent doping effect which binds stronger apical oxygen. Moreover, at Pr- and Cu-site, the scattering distribution are fluctuating with the stable structure at 1000 o C. This initial structural information is worth complementing the fundamental feature for understanding the T’-type cuprates.