Stabilising the orthorhombic perovskite structure in SrIrO3 through chemical doping. Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of SrIr1-xMgxO3(0.20 <= x <= 0.33)

The synthesis, structure, magnetic and electric conductivity properties of Mg doped SrIrO3 are described. Doping SrIrO3 with Mg favours an orthorhombic structure over the hexagonal face-sharing structure. Polycrystalline samples of the type SrIr1-xMgxO3 with an orthorhombic perovskite-type structure have been formed for 0.2 < x < 0.33. At x 0.2 the formal oxidation state of the Ir is +4.5 and the material displays metallic conductivity. At x 0.33 the Ir is in the +5 state and the material is non-metallic. Magnetic susceptibility measurements demonstrate the materials to be spin-glasses in which short range ferromagnetic interactions are evident.