XAFS and neutron diffraction study of La1−xSrxCo1−yNbyO3

The effect of hole doping on the crystal and electronic structure of La1−xSrxCo1−yNbyO3 (y=0.0–0.25) at the x=0.0; 0.2; 0.5 has been studied by neutron diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Co K and L2,3-edges. The preliminary analysis of the Co K and L2,3-edges X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) in La1−xSrxCo1−yNbyO3 series suggests that upon niobium doping, an increase of the intermediate Co3+ spin state and a decrease of low spin Co4+ states contributions occur. The possible explanation of the observed changes of crystal and electronic structure in these cobaltites is discussed.