Ln2□Ti2O7 (Ln = La, Nd, Sm, Gd): a novel series of defective Ruddlesden–Popper phases formed by topotactic dehydration of HLnTiO4+‡
Abstract
Topotactic dehydration of HLnTiO4 (Ln = La, Nd, Sm or Gd) around 480–500 °C yields a new series of metastable layered perovskite oxides, Ln2□Ti2O7, that possess a defective Sr3Ti2O7 structure, where the cubooctahedral sites within the double-perovskite layers are most likely vacant.