Crystal Structure and Concentration-Driven Phase Transitions in Lu(1−x)ScxFeO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) Prepared by the Sol–Gel Method
The structural state and crystal structure of Lu(1−x)ScxFeO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) compounds prepared by a chemical route based on a modified sol–gel method were investigated using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, as well as scanning electron microscopy. It was observed that chemical doping with Sc ions led to a structural phase transition from the orthorhombic structure to the hexagonal structure via a wide two-phase concentration region of 0.1 < x < 0.45. An increase in scandium content above 80 mole% led to the stabilization of the non-perovskite bixbyite phase specific for the compound ScFeO3 . The concentration stability of the different structural phases, as well as grain morphology, were studied depending on the chemical composition and synthesis conditions. Based on the data obtained for the analyzed samples, a composition-dependent phase diagram was constructed. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. ; Funding: This project received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 778070—TransFerr— H2020-MSCA-RISE-2017. G.N. gratefully acknowledges the Center of Spectroscopic Characterization of Materials and Electronic/Molecular Processes (SPECTROVERSUM Infrastructure) for use of Raman spectrometer. A.L.Z. and A.P.T. acknowledge BRFFR (project № T21RM-040) and RFBR (project № 20-52-04011) respectively. M.V.S. acknowledges Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation within the framework of state support for the creation and development of World-Class Research Centers "Digital biodesign and personalized healthcare" № 075-15-2020-926. D.A. acknowledges the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020 & UIDP/50011/2020, financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC and when appropriate co-financed by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement.