Synthesis, properties and phase transitions of pyrochlore- and fluorite-like Ln2RMO7 (Ln = Sm, Ho; R = Lu, Sc; M = Nb, Ta)

Abstract We have studied the new compounds with fluorite-like (Ho 2 RNbO 7 (R = Lu, Sc)) and pyrochlore-like (Sm 2 ScTaO 7 ) structure as potential oxide ion conductors. The phase formation process (from 1200 to 1600 °C) and physical properties (electrical, thermo mechanical, and magnetic) for these compounds were investigated. Among the niobate materials the highest bulk conductivity is offered by the fluorite-like Ho 2 ScNbO 7 synthesized at 1600 °C: 3.8 × 10 −5  S/cm at 750 °C, whereas in Sm system the highest bulk conductivity, 7.3 × 10 −6  S/cm at 750 °C, is offered by the pyrochlore Sm 2 ScTaO 7 synthesized at 1400 °C. In Sm 2 ScTaO 7 pyrochlore we have observed the first-order phase transformation at ∼650–700 °C is related to rearrangement process in the oxygen sublattice of the pyrochlore structure containing B-site cations in different valence state and actually is absent in the defect fluorites. The two holmium niobates show Curie–Weiss paramagnetic behavior, with the prevalence of antiferromagnetic coupling. The magnetic susceptibility of Sm 2 ScTaO 7 is a weak function of temperature, corresponding to Van Vleck paramagnetism.