Mechanically activated synthesis and magnetoresistance of nanocrystalline double perovskite Sr 2FeMoO 6

Abstract

Nanocrystalline Sr 2FeMoO 6 (SFMO) of double perovskite structure has been successfully synthesized by mechanical activation (MA) in air using SrO, Fe 2O 3, and MoO 2 as the starting materials. Magnetization of the polycrystalline SFMO derived from MA increases with increasing MA time. Similarly, the magnetoresistance (MR) effect also increases with increasing MA time up to 25 h, which is ascribed to the elimination of SrMoO 4 impurity phase and the refinement in grain size of the polycrystalline double perovskite phase. Prolonged MA adversely affects the MR effect, where Fe contamination was evidenced. © 2005 The American Ceramic Society.