Structures of the cation-deficient perovskite Nd(0.7)Ti(0.9)Al(0.1)O3 from high-resolution neutron powder diffraction in combination with group-theoretical analysis.

The crystal structures of Nd(0.7)Ti(0.9)Al(0.1)O3, taken to represent the ideal Nd(2/3)TiO3, have been elucidated from 4 to 1273 K using high-resolution neutron powder diffraction in combination with group-theoretical analysis. The room-temperature structure is monoclinic in C2/m, on a cell with a = 7.6764 (1), b = 7.6430 (1), c = 7.7114 (1) A, beta = 90.042 (2) degrees . Pertinent features are the layered ordering of the A-site Nd cations/vacancies along the z axis and out-of-phase tilting of the (Ti/Al)O6 octahedra around both the x and z axes. From about 750 to 1273 K, the octahedra are tilted around just one axis (x axis) perpendicular to the direction of the cation ordering, giving rise to an orthorhombic structure with space-group symmetry Cmmm.