The Dy2BaCoO5 oxide, previously described as belonging to the Nd2BaNiO
5 structural type, is actually a dimorphic compound. The new high temp
erature (HT) phase, HT-Dy2BaCoO5, crystallizes with the Sm2BaCuO5-type
, space group Pnma, which lattice parameters are: a=12.3375(4) angstro
m, b=5.7250(2) angstrom and c=7.0880 (2) angstrom. Dimorphism has been
also detected for R2BaCoO5 (R=Dy-Tm) and new Pnma-R2BaCoO5 (R=Dy, Er,
Tm and Lu) phases have been characterized by means of X-ray powder di
ffraction.