Synthesis of novel rare earth - iron oxide chalcogenides with the La2Fe2O3Se2 structure

TL;DR

This study reports the synthesis and structural characterization of two new rare earth-iron oxide chalcogenides, Ce2Fe2O3S2 and Pr2Fe2O3S2, expanding the family of La2Fe2O3Se2-type compounds with insights into their stability and magnetic properties.

Contribution

The paper introduces two novel compounds with the La2Fe2O3Se2 structure, providing detailed structural and magnetic analyses, and discusses factors influencing their stability.

Findings

Ce2Fe2O3S2 and Pr2Fe2O3S2 are isostructural with La2Fe2O3Se2.

Magnetic behavior similar to iron and titanium oxide chalcogenides.

No superconductivity observed down to 4 K.

Abstract

Our searches for new oxide chalcogenides of rare earths and Fe, Co, Ni, and Zn resulted in preparation of two new compounds Ce2Fe2O3S2 and Pr2Fe2O3S2 which are isostructural to La2Fe2O3Se2 and Sm2Ti2O3Sb2. Crystal structures of the new compounds Ce2Fe2O3S2 and Pr2Fe2O3S2 were determined from powder X-ray diffraction data. Magnetic measurements were performed for Ce2Fe2O3S2 and revealed behavior very similar to that of isostructural oxide chalcogenides of iron and pnictides of titanium. In particular, no superconductivity was observed down to 4 K. Crystal chemical factors determining the stability of the La2Fe2O3Se2 structure type are discussed.