Magnetic and magneto-transport properties of

The variation in structural, magnetic and magneto-transport properties of the double perovskite system (Ba0.8Sr0.2)2−xNdxFeMoO6 {0.0<X<0.5} induced by Nd3+ doping (electron doping) has been studied and compared. The samples were prepared by standard solid state reaction method in a reducing atmosphere. The parent compound showed a saturation magnetic moment value of 3.75 μB/f.u. at an applied field of 0.5 T and a change in magnetoresistance value up to 26% (77 K, 0.8 T). The Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction data showed a continuous decrease in lattice parameters and Fe–Mo ordering with increasing Nd3+ doping. The Curie temperature was found to increase with Nd3+ doping (3 K per % of Nd) while the saturation magnetic moment values and magnetoresistance values were found to decrease. The observed variations in magnetic and magneto-transport properties of the system are explained on the basis of increasing antisite disorder defects and band filling effects induced by electron doping. We have observed the dominant role of band filling in determining the low field magnetoresistance of these systems.