High Resolution Neutron Diffraction Studies of Exsolved Perovskites

Recent studies in our laboratory have shown that a range of A-site deficient perovskite oxides, with carefully tuned chemical compositions, exhibit properties such as excellent catalytic performance and resistance to coking. The key to this performance is the migration of cations from the bulk single phase material to the surface of the material under reducing conditions. Exsolution is not a decomposition process as the perovskite phase remains although it is altered compositionally and structurally. This is achieved by control of the defect chemistry of the perovskite, by choice of composition and experimental conditions. Therefore the main aim of this experiment is to obtain high resolution neutron diffraction data, in order to gain a deeper understanding of how the structure of the perovskite changes following the exsolution process.