Structure and magnetoresistance of the double perovskite Sr2FeMoO6 doped at the Fe site

The structural, magnetic and transport properties of the compounds Sr2(Fe1−xMnx)MoO6 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.45) have been studied. The saturated magnetization, Curie temperature and low-field magnetoresistance of the compounds decrease with x, while the resistivity increases by several orders of magnitude when x exceeds a critical value. A positive magnetoresistance has been observed for x = 0.45. A possible percolation mechanism is proposed to elucidate the observations; it also suggests a coexistence of (Mn3+, Mo5+) and (Mn2+, Mo6+) valence pairs and a saturated substitution of Mn3+ for Fe3+.