Electron Probe Micro Analysis of A‐Site Inter‐Diffusion Between LaFeO3 and NdFeO3

Abstract

The A‐site cation diffusion in LaFeO3 has been examined by inter‐diffusion experiments between LaFeO3 and NdFeO3. Dense, polycrystalline bodies were annealed in contact at temperatures between 1100° and 1300°C in ambient air. The bulk‐ and grain‐boundary inter‐diffusion coefficients were calculated from concentration profiles determined by electron probe micro analysis of cross sections. The bulk‐ and grain‐boundary inter‐diffusion coefficients showed Arrhenius‐type behavior with activation energies 610±30 and 600±100 kJ/mol, respectively. Based on the assumption of 1 nm thick grain boundaries the grain‐boundary inter‐diffusion coefficient was ∼4 orders of magnitude higher than the bulk inter‐diffusion coefficient.