Lattice thermal expansion (LTE) has
been investigated in double
perovskites LaPbMSbO6 (M = Mn, Co, Ni). Ordinary LTE behavior
with good thermal stability is identified for the Mn sample, whereas
unusual LTE with a preferably expanded interplanar distance of (040)
is revealed for Co and Ni samples. Temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction
patterns (T-XRD), Raman spectra (T-Raman), and specific heat capacities (T-C
p) consistently indicate that a rare isostructural
displacive phase transition (IDPT) with a second-order phase transition
nature is predominant near the critical temperature. Refinements of
neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and in situ T-XRD
data present temperature-sensitive bond parameters which are relevant
to planar oxygen O1. X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) further confirm
the Jahn–Teller (J-T) activated Co2+ (HS) or Ni3+ (HS/LS) cations at the B-site sublattice. This unusual LTE
behavior could be understood by the cooperative J-T effect contributed
by a Pb2+ ion and Co2+/Ni3+ ion from
A- and B-site sublattices, respectively. The importance of 6s(Pb)-2p(O)-3d(Co/Ni)
extended orbital hybridization on affecting thermal expansion behavior
is highlighted on the basis of temperature-induced phonon mode softening.
This study presents a microscopic description of connection between
anisotropic thermal expansion and a cooperative J-T effect, which
inspired exploration of thermal–mechanical coupled functional
materials based on LaPbMSbO6 double perovskites.