PHASE TRANSITIONS IN Bi₂Sr₂(Cu_1-zFe_z)O_6+\delta

We have investigated, by X-ray diffraction, a series of single crystals of Bi-based oxides with the nominal composition Bi₂Sr₂(Cu_1-zFe_z)O_6+\delta (0≤z≤0.55). In this system we observed two structural phase transitions with the increase of the doping content. The first transition, from an incommensurate monoclinic phase to an incommensurate orthorhombic phase, occurs at a doping content of iron z_Fe=0.027. The second one corresponds to a phase transition from an incommensurate orthorhombic phase to a commensurate orthorhombic phase at z_Fe=0.34. The comparison of these results with those for more limited substitutions of Zn and Ni indicates the significant role of the insertion of the extra oxygen in the (Bi-O)_\infty double layers.