Strontium surface segregation in La0.58Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 -δ annealed under compression

The present study reports on the surface segregation of strontium for La0.58Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 -δ annealed with and without uniaxial compressive loads. In both cases, the surface segregation of Sr-rich phase was clearly observed on the grain boundaries, particularly in relatively dense regions. The size of these segregated particles increases with increasing annealing time, whereas their number reveals no clear dependence. The number of the segregated particle is fewer, whereas the particle size is larger for the compressed sample, which could be attributed to grain-boundary sliding as well as Sr diffusion aiding the high-temperature creep deformation.