Crystal chemistry on a lattice: The case of BZN and BZN-related pyrochlores

This paper uses a diagnostic, highly structured diffuse intensity distribution to investigate the local crystal chemistry of (Bi1.5Zn0.5-delta)(Zn0.5Nb1.5)O7-delta (BZN) as well as Sn4+ and Ti4+, B site substituted, BZN-related pyrochlore phases. The structured diffuse distribution of the B site substituted material is found to be remarkably similar to that observed for BZN itself. In the special case of (Bi1.5Zn0.5)(Ti1.5Nb0.5)O-7 (BZNT), the continuous G +/- [10l] * type diffuse streaking characteristic of BZN-related pyrochlores has virtually condensed out to give just G +/- [001] * satellite reflections and a P-centred, close to a superstructure phase of average pyrochlore unit cell dimensions. Bond valence sum considerations are used to investigate the local crystal chemistry of this BZNT phase and to derive a plausible model for this superstructure phase. Monte Carlo modelling is used to confirm the plausibility of the model proposed. The underlying crystal chemistry of BZN and BZN-related pyrochlores is shown to result from strong local Bi/Zn ordering rules and associated large amplitude structural relaxation. (C) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.