Crystal growth of inter-lanthanide LaLn′O3 (Ln′=Y, Ho–Lu) perovskites from hydroxide fluxes

In this article, we report the growth of single crystals of the inter-lanthanide series LaLn′O3 (Ln′=Y, Ho–Lu) using molten hydroxide fluxes. Inter-lanthanide oxides, LnLn′O3 (where Ln and Ln′=lanthanides) typically crystallize in the A-, B- or C-Ln2O3 or in the ABO3 perovskite structure types, depending on the relative sizes of the lanthanide cations involved. The inter-lanthanide oxides, LaLn′O3 (Ln′=Y, Ho–Lu), reported herein were determined to crystallize in the orthorhombic (Pnma) perovskite-type structure. A discussion on the effect of cation radii on the resultant crystal structure for LaLn′O3 (Ln′=Y, Ho–Lu) and other reported inter-lanthanide oxides is presented herein.