1304.1631 (R. Uecker et al.)

Growth and Investigation of Nd_{1-x}Sm_{x}ScO_{3} and
Sm_{1-x}Gd_{x}ScO_{3} solid solutions    [PDF]

R. Uecker, D. Klimm, R. Bertram, M. Bernhagen, I. Schulze-Jonack, M. Brützam, A. Kwasniewski, Th. M. Gesing, D. G. Schlom

The average pseudo-cubic lattice parameters of the actually grown series of the rare-earth scandate single crystals DyScO3 - PrScO3 lie between about 3.95 and 4.02 Angstrom. These crystals are the only unrestrainedly useful candidates as substrates for perovskite thin films in this range. However, two members of this range, PmScO3 and EuScO3, are not suitable for substrate applications. Because the lattice parameters between direct neighbours decrease with raising atomic number of the rare earth elements by about 0.01 Angstrom steps, the unsuitability of PmScO3 and EuScO3 cause an interruption in this lattice parameters continuity. To replace them, solid solutions of their adjacent rare-earth scandates, i.e., (Nd0.5Sm0.5)ScO3 and (Sm0.5Gd0.5)ScO3 were grown by the Czochralski method. Their average pseudo-cubic lattice parameters make them excellent substitutes for PmScO3 and EuScO3.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1304.1631