Characterizations of NdFe0.5Co0.5O3 trimetallic oxide prepared by thermal decomposition of heteronuclear complex, Nd[Fe0.5Co0.5(CN)6]•4H2O

NdFe0.5C0.5O3, a trimetallic perovskite-type oxide, was prepared by thermal decomposition of a synthesized heteronuclear complex of Nd[Fe0.5Co0.5(CN)6]. 4H(2)O. Using XRD, the perovskite-type phase was detected in the sample heated at 500 degrees C and the complex was completely decomposed to NdFe0.5Co0.5O8 at 700 degrees C. Distribution of the elements Nd, Fe, and Co on the surface of the complex that decomposed at 800 degrees 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 degrees C) is needed to form a single phase of the perovskite-type oxide. Fe-rich and Go-rich regions on the surface were clearly detected even in a mixture calcined at 1100 degrees 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.