Mixed ferro to diamagnetic transition in Hf doped CaSnO3 perovskite system

In the present study, hafnium (Hf4+) is doped with CaSnO3 (CSO) perovskite synthesized by facile co -precipitation method and their structural, vibrational, morphological and room temperature magnetization properties are investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis using Rietveld refinement method reveal orthorhombic perovskite structure with a reduction in crystallite size from 34 nm to 30 nm in Hf doped CSO. The metal oxide vibrations below 1000 cm-1 indicate the presence of Sn-O bonds and variation in the force constant values supports the incorporation of Hf4+ ions. Raman active modes and order-disorder parameters are probed by Raman scattering studies. Mixed cubes with well-defined edges are seen in FE-SEM images. Pristine CSO exhibits a co-existence of ferromagnetic and diamagnetic nature whereas Hf4+ doping leads to S-type diamagnetic behaviour.