Systematic study of short- and long-range correlations in RE₃TaO₇ weberite-type compounds by neutron total scattering and X-ray diffraction

The atomic structures of the lanthanide tantalates, Ln₃TaO₇, series (Ln = Pr, Tb, Dy, Ho, Tm, Yb) were systematically investigated using total scattering techniques. High-energy X-ray and neutron diffraction analysis revealed that the long-range structures can be grouped into three distinct families: (1) ordered Cmcm (Ln = Pr), (2) ordered Ccmm (Ln = Tb, Dy, Ho), and (3) disordered, defect-fluorite Fm3̄m (Ln = Ho, Tm, Yb). These findings help to clarify the symmetry discrepancy for the already reported long-range structures in the literature. The short-range analysis of neutron total scattering data via pair distribution functions reveals a high degree of structural heterogeneity across length scales for all compounds, with distinct local atomic arrangements that are not fully captured by the average, long-range structure. The short-range structures at the level of coordination polyhedra are better captured by a set of alternative non-centrosymmetric structural models: (1) C2cm, (2) C222₁, and (3) C2mm. This establishes a short-range multiferroic character for weberite-type tantalates because ferroelectric interactions compete with magnetic correlations. These ferroelectric interactions are particularly pronounced for the disordered compounds Tm₃TaO₇ and Yb₃TaO₇. The structural differences among the three families are the result of changes in TaO₆ polyhedral tilt (transition between families 1 and 2) and dipolar interactions of off-centered Ta cations (transition between families 2 and 3).