Effects of yttrium doping in ordered double perovskite Sr2CrReO6

Solid-state reactions carried out in a sealed quartz tube showed that the yttrium solubility limit in the ordered double perovskite Sr2YxCrReO6 is x = 0.2. Using X-ray diffraction analysis and Rietveld refinement, it was possible to confirm the existence of a solid solution with a maximum yttrium (at.%) content of 10%. The compound obtained, Sr1.8Y0.2CrReO6, exhibited a microstructure with grain sizes similar to those of Sr2CrReO6. However, it was noticed that the volume of the unit cell had increased by 0.2%. The compound Sr1.8Y0.2CrReO6 also exhibited an increase in magnetization of 10% with respect to that of Sr2CrReO6 without there being a change in the critical temperature (∼640 K) and with the characteristics of a structured crystalline solid solution being maintained. This suggested that Sr1.8Y0.2CrReO6 can be used for the development and fabrication of spintronics devices.