Growth and characterization of high-quality SrFeOx single crystals

We report the growth of high-quality SrFeOx single crystals with volumes of up to 0.25 cm(3) by the floating zone method. After post-growth annealing under 700 bar oxygen pressure, the crystals have an oxygen content corresponded to SrFeO2.96. Neutron scattering and synchrotron diffraction experiments confirm the high crystal quality of the samples. Two antiferromagnetic transitions were observed for an annealed SrFeO2.96 crystal, with T-NI = 75 K and T-N2 = 134 K. We also establish that the SrFeOx compound melts congruently in air and in oxygen flow at 1435degreesC and 1460degreesC, respectively. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.