Effects of Ho-ion substitution on the magnetic properties of the Ca3Co2O6 frustrated spin-chain compound
Highlights: • A great sensitivity of the Ca{sub 3}Co{sub 2}O{sub 6} magnetic behavior to the presence of magnetic foreign cation are emphasized. • As the Ho content increases the ferrimagnetic configuration becomes less stable; and the antiferromagnetic (AFM) interaction enhances gradually. • Antiferromagnetic coupling interaction between Ho{sup 3+} ions are interpreted, The complex micro-mechanism are discussed in detail. - Abstract: Ho{sup 3+}-ion doped spin-chain compounds Ca{sub 3}Co{sub 2-x}Ho{sub x}O{sub 6} (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15) were prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction method. Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction patterns at room temperature confirmed the rhombohedral structure with the R 3-bar c space group. The results reveal that the solid solubility of the Ho element in Ca{sub 3}Co{sub 2}O{sub 6} is in the range of x = 0.1–0.15. Magnetic measurement suggests that with the increased Ho content: (1) the ferromagnetic transition temperature Tc and spin freezing temperature T{sub ƒ} decrease obviously; (2) the ferrimagnetic configuration becomes less stable; (3) the dynamic characteristics become slower; and (4) the antiferromagnetic (AFM) interaction enhances gradually. Based on these phenomena, the mechanism was discussed in detail. The magnetic correlation length is broken at a low Ho{sup 3+}-ion level, and the Ho{sup 3+}-ion pair formation along the chain with a high level of doping was interpreted.