Crystal structure of sodium doped lanthanum orthomanganite

Abstract

Crystals of sodium doped lanthanum orthomanganites were grown for the first time in sodium chloride flux at 900°C. 0.5 to 0.1mm size crystals were isolated. Composition of the oxide, La_0.82Na_0.13MnO_2.93 was arrived at by chemical analysis of the elements present. Single crystal X-ray structural study showed that the lanthanum as well as oxygen site deficient orthomanganites crystallize in R3¯ space group unlike many divalent cation doped lanthanum orthomanganites which crystallize in R3¯.