Synthesis and characterisation of the n = 2 Ruddlesden–Popper phases Ln{sub 2}Sr(Ba)Fe{sub 2}O{sub 7} (Ln = La, Nd, Eu)

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Some Ruddlesden–Popper phases have been characterised. • Substitution on the A site influences cationic order. • The magnetic moment redirects with temperature - Abstract: A series of n = 2 Ruddlesden–Popper phases A{sub 2}B{sub 2}O{sub 7} of composition Ln{sub 2}Sr(Ba)Fe{sub 2}O{sub 7} (Ln = La, Nd, Eu) have been prepared. La{sub 2}SrFe{sub 2}O{sub 7} and La{sub 2}BaFe{sub 2}O{sub 7} crystallise in the tetragonal space group I4/mmm. The structures of Eu{sub 2}SrFe{sub 2}O{sub 7} and Nd{sub 2}SrFe{sub 2}O{sub 7} are best described in space group P4{sub 2}/mnm. Substitution on the A site with smaller lanthanide- and larger alkaline metal- ions leads to enhanced cationic order in these phases and reflects increasing differences in cationic radii. All the compounds are antiferromagnetically ordered between 298 and 2 K. In La{sub 2}SrFe{sub 2}O{sub 7} the magnetic moment lies along [1 1 0] at all temperatures between 298 and 2 K whereas in La{sub 2}BaFe{sub 2}O{sub 7} the magnetic moment at 298 K lies along the crystallographic x-axis but redirects from the [1 0 0] to the [1 1 0] direction between 210 and 190 K and is retained in this direction until 2 K. In Nd{sub 2}SrFe{sub 2}O{sub 7} the magnetic moment at 298 K lies along [1 1 0] but rotates from [1 1 0] to [0 0 1] between 17 and 9 K. A series of {sup 57}Fe Mössbauer spectra recorded from La{sub 2}SrFe{sub 2}O{sub 7} between 290 and 600 K indicate a magnetic ordering temperature of T{sub N} ≥ 535 K.