Synthesis of 4H-SrMnO3.0 Nanoparticles from a Molecular Precursor and Their Topotactic Reduction Pathway Identified at Atomic Scale.

SrMn(edta)(H2O)5·3/2H2O (I) is synthesized from an aqueous mixture of H4edta, MnCO3, and SrCO3 (40% yield) and used as a precursor for the synthesis of 4H-SrMnO3.0 nanoparticles (II) by thermal decomposition (oxygen atmosphere, 1123 K, 4 h).