Hole doping effects in (Sr2-xNax)FeMoO6 double perovskite

Hole-doped double perovskite compounds (Sr,Na)₂FeMoO₆ with the Na content of x=0,0.02,0.03,0.07 and 0.17 have been synthesized by sol–gel method. Effects of hole doping on the crystal structure and magnetic properties of Sr₂FeMoO₆ have been investigated by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and magnetic measurements. The XRD pattern indicates that all the samples are of single phase and belong to the space group I4/m. Due to the smaller ionic radius of Na⁺ than that of Sr²⁺ ions, the lattice constants and unit cell volume of the compound decrease slightly with x. The degree of cation ordering in the Na-doped Sr₂FeMoO₆ compounds shows a non-monotonic variation with the doping level, increasing from x=0 to x=0.03 and decreasing slightly with further increase of the doping. In contrast to the composition dependence of the degree of ordering, the Curie temperature of the compound decreases at low doping level and increases at high doping level. The saturation magnetization of the compound increases with x for x<0.17. Similar to the electron-doped Sr₂FeMoO₆, provided that the doped hole enters selectively the spin-down band, the variation of the saturation magnetization can be explained in light of the ferrimagnetic model (FIM). PACS 61.72.Ww; 75.50.-y; 75.30.Cr; 75.50.Gg