Curie temperature enhancement in partially disordered Sr2FeReO6 double perovskites

Two samples of the double perovskite Sr₂FeReO₆ have been synthesized by (1) soft-chemistry procedures and (2) high-pressure methods. The sample prepared by a soft-chemistry technique presents 75% of Fe/Re cationic order whereas the one prepared by the application of high external pressure generates a complete Fe/Re cationic order. Both materials have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, neutron powder diffraction and magnetic measurements. The magnetic properties of both oxides have been compared, observing that the specimen prepared via soft-chemistry procedures presents an enhanced Curie temperature of 445 K, although the sample prepared under high-pressure techniques displays a superior saturation magnetization. This behavior is explained as a consequence of the presence, in the partially disordered sample, of Fe-rich islands containing strong Fe-O-Fe antiferromagnetic couplings, able to nucleate and lock the ferromagnetic interactions of the ordered regions, thus increasing the global Curie temperature of the partially disordered material.