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Abstract

A new layered perovskite Sr2Al0.78Mn1.22O5.2 has been synthesized by solid state reaction in a sealed evacuated silica tube. The crystal structure has been determined using electron diffraction, high-resolution electron microscopy, and high-angle annular dark field imaging and refined from X-ray powder diffraction data (space group P4/mmm, a = 3.89023(5) angstrom, c = 7.8034(1) angstrom, R-I = 0.023, R-p = 0.015). The structure is characterized by an alternation of MnO2 and (Al0.78Mn0.22)O-1.2 layers. Oxygen atoms and vacancies, as well as the Al and Mn atoms in the (Al0.78Mn0.22)O-1.2 layers are disordered. The local atomic arrangement in these layers is suggested to consist of short fragments of brownmillerite-type tetrahedral chains of corner-sharing AlO4 tetrahedra interrupted by MnO6 octahedra, at which the chain fragments rotate over 90 degrees. This results in an averaged tetragonal symmetry. This is confirmed by the valence state of Mn measured by EELS. The relationship between the Sr2Al0.78Mn1.22O5.2 tetragonal perovskite and the parent Sr2Al1.07Mn0.93O5 brownmillerite is discussed. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate spin glass behavior of Sr2Al0.78Mn1.22O5.2. The lack of long-range magnetic ordering contrasts with Mn-containing brownmillerites and is likely caused by the frustration of interlayer interactions due to presence of the Mn atoms in the (Al0.78Mn0.22)O-1.2 layers. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.