Short- and long-range order in La1−xSrxCoO3 and La1−xBaxCoO3

Abstract The short- and long-range order correlations of the crystal structure in the distorted perovskites La 1− x Sr x CoO 3 and La 1− x Ba x CoO 3 (0.0⩽ x ⩽0.5) have been studied by the neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and the Co K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements. The results of XAS and NPD indicate a local distortion around the Co 3+ ions in LaCoO 3 at room temperature. The substitution of the La 3+ ions by the Sr 2+ (Ba 2+ ) ions leads to a gradual increase of the Co–O–Co angle and is accompanied by an increase of the mean square relative displacement (MSRD) of the Co–O bond. These results correlate with an increase of the oxygen amplitude vibration in the directi…