Interplay between phase formation mechanisms and magnetism in the Sr2FeMoO6–δ metal‐oxide compound

Double perovskites with the structural formula A₂BB′O_6±δ, especially the strontium ferromolybdate Sr₂FeMoO_6–δ, have attracted a lot of attention due to their unique magnetic and electrical properties and a possible application in spintronic devices. However, a strict correlation between the functional characteristics of Sr₂FeMoO_6–δ and its synthesis technology has been lacking up to date. Thus, we have studied in the present work the crystallization kinetics of Sr₂FeMoO_6–δ using reagents with different pre‐history as well as the structural and magnetic properties of the obtained compounds. Differences in the crystallization kinetics as well as higher magnetic inhomogeneity of Sr₂FeMoO_6–δ synthesised from a mixture of MoO₃, Fe₂O₃, SrCO₃ in comparison with the compound synthesised from the SrFeO_2.5 and SrMoO_4–y precursors have been found and interpreted. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)