Neutron powder diffraction studies of NdSrNi1−xCuxO4−δ, 0⩽x⩽1, and magnetic properties

Compounds from the solid solution NdSrNi1−xCuxO4−δ, 0⩽x⩽1, have been prepared using conventional solid state methods and were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, thermo-gravimetric analysis and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The samples adopt the K2NiF4-type structure. For x=0.2 and x=0.6, neutron diffraction measurements were performed and bond-valence sums (BVSs) were calculated from the Brown bond valence calculation theory. Magnetic susceptibility data for all the compositions follow Curie-Weiss behavior in the temperature range 100-300 K with no evidence of long range magnetic ordering down to 2 K. The effect of Cu2+ incorporation on the magnetic properties of NdSrNi1−xCuxO4−δ, 0⩽x⩽1, is discussed.