X-ray absorption near edge structure and crystallographic studies of the mixed valence oxide SrRu0.8Ni0.2O3.

Neutron diffraction methods are used to refine the structure of SrRu(0.8)Ni(0.2)O(3) at room temperature and 4 K. X-ray absorption measurements at the Ru L-edge demonstrate that partial oxidation of the Ru(4+) to Ru(5+) occurs upon introducing Ni into the SrRuO(3) structure to form SrRu(0.8)Ni(0.2)O(3). Whilst the diffraction measurements show that SrRu(0.8)Ni(0.2)O(3) is isostructural with SrRuO(3), the Ni doped compound exhibits an unusual first order orthorhombic-cubic phase transition near 670 K as revealed by x-ray diffraction. The Curie temperature in SrRu(0.8)Ni(0.2)O(3) is lower than that found in SrRuO(3) as a consequence of local distortions reducing the p-d hybridization.