Crystal growth and structure analysis of Sm_2−xCe_xCuO₄

The phase diagram of the Sm₂O₃–CuO system was investigated by the combination of the differential thermal analysis and the quench method. The results showed that Sm₂CuO₄ incongruently melts at about 1220 °C, and that the solid Sm₂CuO₄ exists in equilibrium with the liquid consisting of 81–95 mol% CuO in the range of 1060–1220 °C. On the basis of the phase diagram, Sm_2−xCe_xCuO₄ single crystals were grown by the traveling solvent floating zone method. The crystal structure [space group I4/mmm, a = 3.917(1), c 4 11.899(2) Å] has been refined using single-crystal x-ray diffraction data with a precision corresponding to an R index of 0.02.