Magnetic, Structural and Morphological Characterization of Sr 2 GdRuO 6 Double Perovskite

Abstract

We report structural, morphological and magnetic properties of the Sr2GdRuO6 compound, which is used as precursor oxide in the production process of RuSr2GdCu2O8 superconducting ruthenocuprates. The crystalline structure was studied by X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement. Results reveal that material crystallizes in a monoclinic double perovskite, space group P21/n (#14). Scanning Electron Microscopy experiments on samples show homogeneous granular morphology with grain size from 3 up to 7 μm. Semiquantitative analysis of composition was performed by the Energy Dispersive X-ray technique. Experimental results are 98% in agreement with the theoretical stoichiometry. Curves of magnetization as a function of temperature exhibit an antiferromagnetic-like behaviour, with Néel temperature TN=15.3 K and magnetic effective moment 8.72μB.