Synthesis of a new series of rare-earth vanadates RBa2V3O11(R=Y, La, Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm)

The single phase with 1-2-3 composition was obtained. The structures are orthorhombic or tetragonal depending upon the R element. The cell parameters a range from 0.760 to 0.788 nm, b form 0.758 to 0.785 nm and c from 2.360 to 2.435 nm for orthorhombic-structure samples (R = Y, Pr, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm), and a from 0.785 to 0.794 nm and c from 2.395 to 2.427 nm for tetragonal-structure samples (R = La, Nd, Eu, Gd). The as-sintered samples are insulators with very high resistivity of 10 exp(12) ohm.cm. After annealing in a H2 atmosphere, they decomposed into BaVO3 and RVO3. 11 refs.