Magnetic and structural behavior of Sr2ZrMnO6 double perovskite

We report synthesis and characterization of new Sr2ZrMnO6 manganite-like material. Samples were produced by the solid state reaction method with sinterization temperatures up to 1400 degrees C. X-ray diffraction experiments reveal that structure belongs to the perovskite system, space group Fm (3) over barm (#225). Lattice parameter a = 7.86 angstrom was obtained by means of Rietveld-type refinement, through the GSAS code. Magnetic properties were studied by using an MPMS Quantum Design SQUID. From measurements of magnetization as a function of temperature, we determine the occurrence of a paramagnetic-antiferromagnetic transition with Neel temperature 50 K Curie-Weiss fitting permitted to obtain the magnetic characteristic parameters. At temperature regimes below the Neel temperature, strong evidences of frustration and an irreversibility temperature between zero field cooling (ZFC) and field cooling (FC) measurements were observed. Curves of magnetization as a function of applied field were performed at T = 4 K. Results show a hysteretic feature for Sr2ZrMnO6 magnetic material. This response is attributed to formation of magnetic clusters as a consequence of cationic (magnetic and no magnetic) disorder along the double perovskite structure. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.