Growth and characterization of high-quality SrFeO_x single crystals

摘要

We report the growth of high-quality SrFeO_x single crystals with volumes of up to 0.25 cm~3 by the floating zone method. After post-growth annealing under 700 bar oxygen pressure, the crystals have an oxygen content corresponded to SrFeO_(2.96). Neutron scattering and synchrotron diffraction experiments confirm the high crystal quality of the samples. Two antiferromagnetic transitions were observed for an annealed SrFeO_(2.96) crystal, with T_(N1) = 75 K and T_(N2) = 134K. We also establish that the SrFeO_x compound melts congruently in air and in oxygen flow at 1435℃ and 1460℃, respectively.