A comparison of the processes involved in the direct synthesis of GdSr2RuCu2Ox and NdSr2RuCu2Oy perovskites.

Abstract The processes involved during the direct synthesis of the GdSr 2 RuCu 2 O 8 compound and of the analogous Nd-based compound from the precursor oxides have been analyzed mainly by variable temperature X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA). The reaction paths for the two compounds are quite different: GdSr 2 RuCu 2 O 8 compound forms only after long annealing procedures by reaction of two intermediate compounds, while NdSr 2 RuCu 2 O 8 forms in a unique step.