Synthesis and structure of oxygen-deficient La2NiCoO5 and LaSrCo2O5 phases

The La2NiCoO5 and LaSrCo2O5 phases have been synthesized by the temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) of the parent mixed perovskites LaNi0.5Co0.5O3 and La0.5Sr0.5CoO3, respectively, under an ammonia atmosphere. While La2NiCoO5 adopts a structure similar to the vacancy-ordered La2Ni2O5, LaSrCo2O5 crystallized in a brownmillerite-like structure. The reactivity of the perovskite oxides towards reduction by ammonia and the structure of the product oxides are found to be guided by factors such as the coordination and oxidation state of the transition-metal cations.