On the origin of nano-chessboard super-lattices in A-site deficient Ca-stabilized Nd2/3TiO3

A-site deficient Nd2/3TiO3 ceramics stabilized with CaTiO3, with an overall composition of 0.9Nd2/3TiO3 – 0.1CaTiO3, were synthesized by the mixed oxide route. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction was used to identify the basic perovskite structure and revealed cross-type super-lattice reflections. An incommensurate super-lattice structure with dimensions of a≈b≈20apand c=2ap (where ap is the cell parameter for the parent perovskite phase) was identified, giving rise to contrast features resembling a nano-chessboard pattern in electron microscopy images.