STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION AND ELECTRICAL BEHAVIOR OF LANI1-XSBXO3 (O-LESS-THAN-OR-EQUAL-TO-X-LESS-THAN-OR-EQUAL-TO-1 3) PEROVSKITES/

The structural and electrical characterization of the LaNi1-xSbxO3 (0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 1/3) perovskite-like sys tem is reported. These compounds can be regarded as being derived from LaNiO3 by partial substitution of Ni3+ by Sb5+ cations with the conco mitant partial reduction of Ni3+ to Ni2+. Perovskite-type structures w ith orthorhombic symmetry (S.G. Pbnm) have been found for all the seri es members with x not equal 0, from X-ray diffraction Resistivity and Seebeck measurements show the presence of metal to insulator (M-I) tra nsitions in these oxides.