Structural study of LaNixFe1-xO3 prepared from precursor salts

LaNiO3, LaFeO3 and their solid solution LaNi0.3Te0.7O3 have been prepared using acetate and citrate salts as precursors. The decomposition of organic substances were obtained by calcination in mild conditions. A detailed discussion of the structural and microstructural changes of these materials due to thermal treatments is proposed by means of X-ray diffraction, microraman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy studies. Moreover, the local distortion of the perovskite structure determining the second order transition in these perovskites has been evidenced by microraman spectroscopy. Indeed, this technique has been shown to be powerful to characterize the local coordination of the metals, that is possibly a critical parameter in their chemical activity. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.