Synthesis and study of the structural characteristics of a new complex perovskite oxide Sr2HoHfO5.5 for its use as a substrate for YBCO superconducting films

Abstract A new complex cubic perovskite oxide Sr 2 HoHfO 5.5 has been prepared by solid state reaction process. X-ray diffraction studies show that Sr 2 HoHfO 5.5 has a A 2 BB ′ O 6 type complex cubic perovskite structure and presence of the significant intensities of superstructure reflections in the X-ray spectrum reveal that it is an ordered complex cubic perovskite oxide. The experimental value of the lattice parameter of Sr 2 HoHfO 5.5 , is a =8.1725 A. Based on the doubling of primitive ABO 3 cubic perovskite unit cell, (1/2) a =4.0862 A of Sr 2 HoHfO 5.5 is comparable to the lattice parameter a =3.8227 A of YBCO superconductor. Sr 2 HoHfO 5.5 has good lattice matching (lattice mismatch ∼6%) with YBCO superconductor. The dc magnetic susceptibility of Sr 2 HoHfO 5.5 , measured in the temperature range 5–300 K shows a Curie–Weiss behavior. Using a Curie–Weiss law fitting we obtain a effective magnetic moment per Ho 3+ ion in Sr 2 HoHfO 5.5 of 9.76 μ B . This value is slightly lower than the spin-only moment (10.60 μ B ) expected for an isolated Ho 3+ ion.