Crystal Structure and Magnetic Properties of SrCoO_3-δ with Oxygen Deficiency (δ ≈ 0.23)

Abstract

We report a synthesis route to form a stable powder of SrCoO3-δ which show ferromagnetic component at room temperature. The powder was obtained from brownmillerite SrCoO2.5 using chemical oxidation. The x-ray diffraction pattern of the oxidized powder was best fitted using a tetragonal structure of I4/mmm with lattice constants of a = b = 10.87 Å, c = 7.664 Å and its oxygen content of 2.77 (δ 0.23) was measure by iodometric titration. In spite of a single-phase structure, the elemental compositions of oxidized powder characterized by the EDX measurement showed the presence of oxidation elements that might contribute to magnetic impurities at low temperatures. The powder nevertheless can be used for magnetic applications at room temperature.