Flux growth and characterization of SrMo0.93O3 single crystal

Single crystals of SrMo0.93O3 have been grown by a flux-growth technique using MoO3 as the flux. The growth process is divided into three stages. First, SrMoO4 ceramics were sintered in a solid-state reaction. Then, good-quality SrMoO4 single crystals have been successively grown from the high temperature solutions. Finally, the compound was reduced by hydrogen and argon to SrMo0.93O3 single crystal. Powder X-ray diffraction pattern indicated that the SrMo0.93O3 crystal has a cubic structure with a=3.974Å. ICP-AES analysis indicates that the Sr and Mo ratio is 1:0.93 in the crystal. The temperature dependence of resistivity, magnetization and specific heat of the crystal has also been studied.