Characterizations of NdFe<sub>0.5</sub>Co<sub>0.5</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Trimetallic Oxide Prepared by Thermal Decomposition of Heteronuclear Complex, Nd[Fe<sub>0.5</sub>Co<sub>0.5</sub>(CN)<sub>6</sub>

Abstract

NdFe0.5Co0.5O3, a trimetallic perovskite-type oxide, was prepared by thermal decomposition of a synthesized heteronuclear complex of Nd[Fe0.5Co0.5(CN)6]⋅4H2O. Using XRD, the perovskite-type phase was detected in the sample heated at 500°C and the complex was completely decomposed to NdFe0.5Co0.5O3 at 700°C. Distribution of the elements Nd, Fe, and Co on the surface of the complex that decomposed at 800°C were homogeneous according to Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) analysis, For a solid-state reaction method using a mixture of single oxides (Nd2O3, Fe2O3 and CoO), a high heating temperature (>1000°C) is needed to form a single phase of the perovskite-type oxide. Fe-rich and Co-rich regions on the surface were clearly detected even in a mixture calcined at 1100°C. Surface concentration and structure of samples obtained by both methods were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). For both samples, XPS revealed that the (Fe+Co)/Nd ratio was less than unity.