Structural and magnetic properties of the ordered perovskite Pb2CoTeO6

Abstract

The complex perovskite Pb₂CoTeO₆ (PCTO) has been prepared as polycrystalline powders by a solid state reaction route, and the crystal structure and magnetic properties have been investigated using a combination of X-ray and neutron powder diffraction, electron microscopy, dielectric, calorimetric and magnetic measurements. It was shown that at room temperature this compound adopts a trigonal perovskite structure, space group R (a = 5.6782(1) Å, c = 13.8552(3) Å). The compound undergoes a number of temperature-induced phase transitions and adopts four different structures in the temperature range 5–500 K: monoclinic in P2₁/n (5 < T < 125 K, tilt system (a⁺b⁻b⁻)), monoclinic in I2/m (125 < T < 210 K, tilt system (a⁰b⁻b⁻)), rhombohedral in R (210 < T < 370 K, tilt system (a⁻a⁻a⁻)), and finally cubic in Fmm (above 370 K without any tilting). These structural phase transitions are coupled to changes in the dielectric constant and the heat capacity around 210 and 370 K. A long-range antiferromagnetically ordered state has been identified from neutron powder diffraction and magnetic studies at different temperatures. Magnetic diffraction peaks were registered below the transition at about 16 K and a possible model for the magnetic structure is proposed. Possible coexistence of long-range ordering of the electrical dipoles and the magnetic moments at low temperatures making PCTO a potential multiferroic candidate is discussed.