The role of the synthesis conditions on the cationic Fe/Mo ordering in Sr2FeMoO6 double perovskite is addressed. It is shown that this ordering can be controlled and varied systematically. The Fe/Mo ordering has a profound impact on the saturation magnetization of the material. Using the appropriate synthesis protocol a record value of 3.7muB/f.u. has been obtained. Mossbauer analysis reveals the existence of two distinguishable Fe sites in agreement with the P4/mmm symmetry and a charge density at the Fe(m+) ions significantly larger than (+3) suggesting a Fe contribution to the spin-down conduction band. The implications of these findings for the synthesis of Sr2FeMoO6 having optimal magnetoresistance response are discussed.
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0007248,
title = {Cationic ordering control of magnetization in Sr2FeMoO6 double perovskite},
author = {Ll. Balcells and J. Navarro and M. Bibes and A. Roig and B. Martinez and J. Fontcuberta},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0007248},
year = {2009}
}