The influence of Cr doping on the structural and magnetic properties of Sr2Fe1−xCrxMoO6 double perovskite

We have studied the effect of Cr substitution for Fe in Sr2Fe1−xCrxMoO6 (x⩽0.3) double perovskites. X-ray diffraction, neutron powder diffraction (NPD), magnetisation measurements as well as Mossbauer spectroscopy have been used to determine the structural and magnetic properties of these compounds. All these materials were found to crystallise with tetragonal symmetry. The main observed effect is a decrease with respect to the undoped composition, of the cationic order with Cr doping levels. Mossbauer spectroscopy measurement revealed that iron exists in high spin +3 oxidation state.