Ferromagnetism in Cr substituted SrMoO3 system

Abstract

Systematic studies of structural, magnetic, electric transport, and specific heat properties have been performed on lightly Cr-doped molybdates SrMo1−xCrxO3 (0⩽x⩽0.10). Based on the analysis of structural parameter variations, the valence state of the doped Cr ions in SrMo1−xCrxO3 system is suggested to be +2. Cr substitution as low as x=0.025 is sufficient to drive SrMo1−xCrxO3 system from the Pauli-paramagnetic state to a ferromagnetic state. The Curie temperature TC increases monotonically with increasing Cr-doping content. All samples exhibit metalliclike transport behavior in the whole studied temperature range except for the x=0.10 sample. The magnitude of the resistivity increases monotonically with increasing Cr-doping level. The evolution of the magnetic and resistive properties with Cr-doping content x may be related to the narrowed d-band width due to Cr substitution. In addition, the temperature dependence of specific heat for all samples has also been studied.