Hyperfine characterization of SrTixHf1−xO3

In order to study how the Hf replacement by Ti affects the crystalline structure of SrHfO3 pure perovskite, X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies and hyperfine characterizations of SrHf1−xTixO3 for the compositions x=0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 are reported. The structure at room temperature (RT) was determined by XRD. Hyperfine electric quadrupole interaction at Ta probes was determined by perturbed angular correlation spectroscopy. For every sample, spin precession curves were measured from RT to 1000 °C, in 50 °C steps. From the data fit it was determined that for x=0.25 the compound is orthorhombic (Pnma) at RT and undergoes one first-order and one second-order phase transitions at 550 and 750 °C, respectively. For x=0.50 the compound is in the orthorhombic (Cmcm) phase at RT and undergoes a second-order phase transition at about 250 °C. For x  =0.75, the compound is cubic (Pm3¯m) from RT on. Also, comparison with other perovskite-type compound studies is performed.