Optimization of synthesis parameters and pressure effect for layered honeycomb ruthenate SrRu2O6

Abstract Layered honeycomb compound SrRu2O6 has drawn great attentions because of the unconventional magnetism with a rather high N e ′ el temperature and small ordered moments. Here we report the optimization of synthesis parameters for SrRu2O6 samples based on the hydrothermal method. The synthesis conditions were tuned carefully in terms of reaction temperature, time of duration, alkalinity and so on. The resultant samples were characterized using the scanning electron microscope, powder x-ray diffractometer and pressure. We found that SrRu2O6 can be synthesized at the temperature as low as 140 °C and an appropriate long reaction time can increase the grain size to about 20 μm. The shrinkage of the crystal lattice under high pressure shows an anisotropic behavior. Moreover, the band gap decreases with the increase of the pressure up to 3.0 GPa. Our results here supply an important platform for the further investigations of this system.