In situ X-ray powder diffraction, synthesis, and magnetic properties of InVO3

We report the first synthesis and high-temperature in situ X-ray diffraction study of InVO3. Polycrystalline InVO3 has been prepared via reduction of InVO4 using a carbon monoxide/carbon dioxide buffer gas. InVO3 crystallizes in the bixbyite structure in space group Ia−3 (206) with a=9.80636(31) Å with In3+/V3+ disorder on the (8b) and (24d) cation sites. In situ powder X-ray diffraction experiments and thermal gravimetric analysis in a CO/CO2 buffer gas revealed the existence of the metastable phase InVO3. Bulk samples with 98.5(2)% purity were prepared using low-temperature reduction methods. The preparative methods limited the crystallinity of this new phase to approximately 225(50) Å. Magnetic susceptibility and neutron diffraction experiments suggest a spin-glass ground state for InVO3.

Graphical abstractIn situ powder X-ray diffractograms for the reduction of InVO4 in CO/CO2. The three temperature regions show the conversion of InVO4 to InVO3 and final decomposition into In2O3 and V2O3.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide