Crystallographic, Ferroelectric and Electronic Properties of the Sr2ZrTiO6 Double Perovskite

In this paper, we report structural analysis, ferroelectric behavior and electronic structure of Sr₂ZrTiO₆ double perovskite. Samples were produced by the solid state reaction recipe. Crystallographic analysis was performed by Rietveld refinement of experimental X-ray diffraction patterns. Results show that this material crystallizes in a tetragonal perovskite structure which corresponds to the space group I4/m. The curve of polarization as a function of applied voltage evidences a ferroelectric character with saturation polarization on the application of voltages up to 1800 V. Calculations of density of states and band structure for this manganite-like material were carried out by means of the density functional theory implemented into the Wien2k code. Results of total and partial density of states reveal the insulator character of this material with an energy gap of 2.66 eV.