Solid State Ionics, Vol.90, No.1-4, 49-55, 1996
Synthesis and Characterization of the Aurivillius Phases Bi2-Xpb(X)Sr(1-X)Nd(X)Nb(2)O(9)
The n=2 Aurivillius phase Bi2-xPbxSr1-xNd2O9 was successfully synthesized as a ceramic material over the whole range of simultaneous, charge compensated substitution x = 0-1.0. Structural investigations were performed by Rietveld refinement applying different space groups Fmmm and A2(1)am, and additionally by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (EXAFS) on the Nd L(III)-edge, confirming the accommodation of Nd on the atomic sites of Sr, which implies the substitution of Bi3+ by the isoelectronic Pb2+. The ferroelectric transition temperature T-c= 270 degrees C of the substituted powders with x = 0.4 and 1.0 is distinctly reduced compared to the unsubstituted sample with T-c= 450 degrees C. In temperature resolved powder X-ray diffraction patterns no structural phase transition could be detected.