Electrical and magnetic properties of the complete solid solution series between SrRuO3 and LaRhO3: Filling t2g versus tilting

A complete solid solution series between the t(2g)(4) perovskite ferromagnet SrRuO3 and the diamagnetic t(2g)(6) perovskite LaRhO3 has been prepared. The evolution with composition x in (SrRuO3)(1-x) (LaRhO3)(x) of the crystal structure and electrical and magnetic properties has been studied and is reported here. As x increases, the octahedral tilt angle gradually increases, along with the psuedocubic lattice parameter and unit-cell volume. Electrical resistivity measurements reveal a compositionally driven metal-to-insulator transition between x = 0.1 and 0.2. Ferromagnetic ordering gives over to glassy magnetism for x >= 0.3, and no magnetic ordering is found above 2 K for x > 0.5. M-sat and Theta(CW) decrease with increasing x and remain constant after x = 0.5. The magnetism appears poised between localized and itinerant behavior and becomes more localized with increasing x, as evidenced by the evolution of the Rhodes-Wohlfarth ratio. mu(eff) per Ru is equal to the quenched spin-only S value across the entire solid solution. Comparisons with Sr1-xCaxRuO3 reinforce the important role of structural distortions in determining the magnetic ground state. It is suggested that electrical transport and magnetic properties are not strongly coupled in this system.