On the growth and properties of high quality single crystals of the yttrium doped strontium cobaltates, Y1−xSrxCoO3−δ (0.7 ≤ x ≤ 0.95)
Abstract
High quality single-crystals of the A-site and oxygen vacancy ordered variant of yttrium-doped strontium cobaltates Y1−xSrxCoO3−δ (0.7 ≤ x ≤ 0.95) have been produced via the floating zone technique. These materials have been the subject of recent research because of their potential applications in solid state devices and for the unusual sensitivity of their magnetic and transport properties to oxygen content. Initial characterisation measurements show the magnetic susceptibility is nearly isotropic and indicative of a weak ferromagnetic response. The large single crystals we have produced are ideal for experiments with the microscopic probes necessary to understand the true nature of the structural and magnetic properties of these compounds.