Synthesis and properties of the double perovskites La2NiVO6, La2CoVO6, and La2CoTiO6

The double perovskites La2CoVO6, La2CoTiO6, and La2NiVO6, are described. Rietveld fitting of neutron and powder X-ray diffraction data show La2NiVO6 and La2CoVO6 to have a disordered arrangement of B-cations whereas La2CoTiO6 shows ordering of the B-cations (with ∼5% Co/Ti inversion). Curie–Weiss fits to the linear region of the 1/χ plots reveal Weiss temperatures of −107, −34.8, and 16.3 K for La2CoVO6, La2CoTiO6, and La2NiVO6, respectively, and magnetic transitions are observed. La2CoTiO6 prepared by our method differs from material prepared by lower-temperature routes. A simple antiferromagnetic spin model is consistent with the data for La2CoTiO6. These compounds are semiconductors with bandgaps of 0.41 (La2CoVO6), 1.02 (La2CoTiO6) and 0.45 eV (La2NiVO6).