Crystal structure and morphology of the NdSr₂RuCu₂O_y compound

We report the preparation and the structural and morphological characterization of the perovskite compound NdSr₂RuCu₂O_y. The crystal structure of this material has been determined by a combined high-resolution electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction and high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction study. The morphology of the samples has been monitored by a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer attachment by which the microanalysis of the crystallites has been also performed. Finally, dc magnetic susceptibility measurements show that this compound behaves like an enhanced paramagnetic metal with evidence of neither magnetic order and neither superconducting one.