Magnetic Structures of High Temperature Phases of TbBaCo2O5.5

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic and structural phase transitions of TbBaCo2O5.5 across a wide temperature range using neutron diffraction, revealing complex magnetic structures and spin states in different phases.

Contribution

It provides detailed neutron diffraction analysis of magnetic structures and spin states in TbBaCo2O5.5, highlighting multiple phase transitions and proposing non-collinear magnetic arrangements.

Findings

Transitions to insulating and magnetic phases at specific temperatures

Co3+ ions in low and intermediate spin states

Non-collinear magnetic structures proposed

Abstract

Neutron diffraction studies have been carried out on a single crystal of oxygen-deficient perovskite TbBaCo2O5.5 in the temperature range of 7-370 K. There have been observed several magnetic or structural transitions. Among these, the existence of the transitions to the insulating phase from the metallic one at ~340 K, to the one with the ferromagnetic moment at ~280 K and possibly to the antiferromagnetic one at ~260 K, with decreasing temperature T correspond to those reported in former works. We have studied the magnetic structures at 270 K and 250 K and found that all Co3+ ions of the CoO6 octahedra are in the low spin state and those of the CoO5 pyramids carry spins which are possibly in the intermediate spin state. Non-collinear magnetic structures are proposed at these temperatures. Two other transitions have also been observed at the temperatures, ~100 K and ~250 K.