Stable Fe deficient Sr2Fe1−δMoO6 (0.0 ⩽ δ ⩽ 0.10) compound

•Synthesis of Fe deficient Sr2Fe1−δMoO6 compound by standard solid-state reaction method.•The results showed that the little amount of Fe deficiency provide the structure stability by varying the Fe/Mo ion valences.•The SEM with EDS analysis also reveals that there is no considerable change in grain size, morphology and compositions.•Moreover, a systematic decrease in LFMR is observed with Fe deficiency.•It may concluded that the Fe deficiency should be avoided to achieve the better LFMR properties in SFMO compound.

The structural, magnetic and magneto-transport properties of bulk ceramic double perovskite Sr2Fe1−δMoO6 (δ = 0.0, 0.02, 0.05 and 0.10) samples were systematically investigated. The rietveld fitted X-ray diffraction patterns shows the tetragonal symmetry with Fe deficiency up to δ = 0.10, which suggested that the crystal structure of the Sr2FeMoO6 (SFMO) does not change so much with Fe deficiency. However, the lattice parameters found to be slightly increased in higher Fe deficiency δ = 0.10. The Scanning Electron Microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis reveals that there is no considerable change in grain size, morphology and compositions with Fe deficiency. The saturation magnetization (Ms) showed the decreasing–increasing–decreasing behavior with increasing Fe deficiency. The low field magnetoresistance found to be decreased by increasing Fe deficiency. The observed result shows that the little amount of Fe deficiency provide the structure stability by varying the Fe/Mo ion valences, but it harmful and should be avoided to achieve the better magnetoresistive properties in pristine SFMO compound.