ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal

This is a page describing data taken during an experiment at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source. Information about the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source can be found at https://www.isis.stfc.ac.uk.


Oxide ion conductivity in a geometric ferroelectric

Abstract: Lanthanum tantalate, LaTaO4, is one of the few oxide examples of an n = 2 member of the Carpy-Galy phases of general formula AnBnX3n+2. These are 2-dimensional perovskite-related materials where the perovskite network disrupted by introducing ?excess? anions resulting in the formation of perovskite layers n-octahedra deep. LaTaO4 is unusual in that on heating it successively transforms from non-polar monoclinic to incommensurate polar orthorhombic at ca. 440 K to commensurate polar orthorhombic at 500 K. These transitions result from a change in tilting of the octahedral units in the perovskite layers and is therefore an example of a ?geometric? ferroelectric. Selective doping with Ce at the La-site and subsequent controlled partial oxidation of Ce (+III) to Ce (+IV) gives rise to interstitial oxide ions in between the perovskite layers and results in oxide ion conductivity. It is proposed that the geometric mechanism of ferroelectricity in this structure should therefore be robust to the presence of these additional charge carriers. The aim of this study is to determine the influence of both Ce(III)-doping and partial oxidation to Ce(IV) on the structural evolution, and stability of the ferroelectric phase, of LaTaO4.

Principal Investigator: Professor Finlay Morrison
Experimenter: Ms Kim-Isabelle Mehnert
Experimenter: Mr Toby Fairs
Local Contact: Dr Ronald Smith
Experimenter: Mr Blair Kennedy

DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2420426

ISIS Experiment Number: RB2420426

Part DOI Instrument Public release date Download Link
10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2420426-1 POLARIS 19 March 2028 Download

Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

Data format: RAW/Nexus
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Data Citation

The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher], [doi]

For Example:
Professor Finlay Morrison et al; (2025): Oxide ion conductivity in a geometric ferroelectric, STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2420426

Data is released under the CC-BY-4.0 license.



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