Centennial Honors College
Western Illinois University
Undergraduate Research Day 2014
Poster Presentation
Solid State Synthesis of New Ba2MnRuO6 Double Perovskite Crystal
Terrence Petry
Faculty Mentor: Brian Bellott
Chemistry
Solid state chemistry involves synthesizing and analyzing solid materials. Solid
materials have properties that are highly sought after, including electronic, magnetic and
chemical inertness. To find better properties in these materials, we must create and
analyze them. High temperature methods are well known for accomplishing this task.
This involves taking solid powders and heating them at extremely high temperatures for
lengthy periods of time. This method is useful for forming single crystals and
polycrystalline material.
One interesting family of crystals is the double perovskites. These materials have the
general formula A2MM’O6 (A is an alkaline earth metal, M is a first row transition metal,
M’ is a second or third row transition metal). This family of crystals is particularly
interesting since many of the compounds in the family have strong magnetic properties.
These properties could be utilized to develop more effective memory storage devices or
strong magnets to use in household applications.