Tunable magnetic properties of double perovskite La2Fe2-xCoxO6

Double perovskite La2Fe2-xCoxO6 was prepared and studied. Orthorhombic and trigonal structures were obtained depend on the molar ratio of Fe to Co. Fe-rich sample demonstrate ferrimagnetic properties; with increasing content of Co, trigonal structure is favored and the net magnetic moment of sample decrease gradually to zero. Our experimental results were further supported by first-principle theoretical calculations and demonstrate that La2Fe2-xCoxO6 is a new high Tc ferromagnetic semiconductor with tunable magnetic properties and is thus a promising material for spintronics devices.