Structural evolution of single-crystal RECrO3 (RE = Y, Eu–Lu) orthochromates

In-house X-ray powder diffraction has been employed to study the room-temperature structural evolution of orthochromate RECrO 3 (RE ​= ​Y, Eu–Lu) single crystals grown by the floating-zone method with a laser-diode furnace. Structural refinements reveal an anomaly in the evolution of lattice parameters versus RE ionic radius. This anomaly occurred to the LuCrO 3 single crystal and may be attributed to the disappearance of magnetostriction effect due to the loss of both spin and orbital angular moments of Lu 3+ ions. Moreover, we have monitored the evolution of Bragg (0 2 0), (1 1 2), (2 0 0), and (0 2 1) peaks, which has varied in a regular basis with rare-earth ionic radius indicative of changes in lattice constants. Crystal structure and evolution of the unit-cell volume of orthochromates RECrO 3 (RE ​= ​Y, Eu–Lu) single crystals, clearly displaying an anomaly occurring to the LuCrO 3 compound. We attributed this to a disappearance of the magnetostriction effect resulting from 3 d -4 f couplings. • Evolution of structures of RECrO 3 (RE ​= ​Y, Eu–Lu) compounds was reported. • An anomaly in lattice parameters of LuCrO 3 was observed. • Magnetostriction effect of RECrO 3 (RE ​= ​Y, Eu–Lu) compounds was discussed.