High-pressure synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of TlCrO3 perovskite

TlMO(3) perovskites (M(3+) = transition metals) are exceptional members of trivalent perovskite families because of the strong covalency of Tl(3+)-O bonds. Here we report on the synthesis, crystal structure and properties of TlCrO(3) investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy, specific heat, dc/ac magnetization and dielectric measurements. TlCrO(3) perovskite is prepared under high pressure (6 GPa) and high temperature (1500 K) conditions. The crystal structure of TlCrO(3) is refined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data: space group Pnma (no. 62), Z = 4 and lattice parameters a = 5.40318(1) Å, b = 7.64699(1) Å and c = 5.30196(1) Å at 293 K. No structural phase transitions are found between 5 and 300 K. TlCrO(3) crystallizes in the GdFeO(3)-type structure similar to other members of the perovskite chromite family, ACrO(3) (A(3+) = Sc, In, Y and La-Lu). The unit cell volume and Cr-O-Cr bond angles of TlCrO(3) are close to those of DyCrO(3); however, the Néel temperature of TlCrO(3) (TN≈ 89 K) is much smaller than that of DyCrO(3) and close to that of InCrO(3). Isothermal magnetization studies show that TlCrO(3) is a fully compensated antiferromagnet similar to ScCrO(3) and InCrO(3), but different from RCrO(3) (R(3+) = Y and La-Lu). Ac and dc magnetization measurements with a fine step of 0.2 K reveal the existence of two Néel temperatures with very close values at T(N2) = 87.0 K and T(N1) = 89.3 K. Magnetic anomalies near T(N2 )are suppressed by static magnetic fields and by 5% iron doping.