Do Ba(Fe1/2V1/2)O3 and Ba1-xZnx(Fe1/2V1/2)O3 Exist?

Abstract

We bring attention of the scientific community to erroneous claims about the existence of a perovskite “Ba(Fe1/2V1/2)O3” and its solid solutions, Ba1-xZnx(Fe1/2V1/2)O3 (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15). We experimentally show that the claimed compound with x = 0 does not exist when prepared at ambient pressure and in air; instead, a mixture of Ba3(VO4)2 and BaFe2O4 is formed. The introduction of Zn leads to the appearance of an additional phase of ZnFe2O4.

Keywords: ZnFe2O4, BaFe2O4, X-ray diffraction; phase analysis; lattice parameters; errors