Preparation and characterization of Fully stoichiometric SrCoO3 by electrochemical oxidation

A nearly stoichiometric SrCoO₃ phase had been prepared up to now only using high oxygen pressure. A new method for preparing fully stoichiometric SrCoO₃ has been proposed using electrochemical oxidation. Brownmillerite-type SrCoO_2.50 is oxidized into a completely stoichiometric perovskite at a potential of 500 mV for 180 hours at room temperature in alkaline media (1 M KOH). The oxidized phase has a cubic unit cell (a=383.5 pm). It is metallic and, at temperatures below T=280 K, it shows ferromagnetic behavior. The magnetic moment at 0 K is 2.1 μ_B. The physical properties of SrCoO_3.00 have been explained in terms of partial occupancy of a σ*e band.