XRD, magnetic susceptibility, and EPR studies are reported for the BaC
uO2+x compound in both the oxygenated and nonoxygenated phases. The XR
D analysis has shown essential differences in the disordered part betw
een the oxygenated and the nonoxygenated samples. The magnetic suscept
ibility measurements have shown strong ferromagnetic intracluster inte
ractions among copper ions in the ordered part of the compound. At low
temperature, antiferromagnetic intercluster interactions mediated by
the disordered part predominate. EPR measurements in both phases have
revealed a spectrum of Cu2+ ions, in orthorhombic local symmetry, whic
h is attributed to copper ions in the disordered part. An intense exch
ange-narrowed EPR line has also been observed in both phases, which is
ascribed to the copper clusters in the ordered part. The temperature
dependence of the intensity and linewidth of this line is consistent w
ith the bulk magnetic behaviour. At low temperature, the divergent beh
aviour of the EPR parameters indicates that antiferromagnetic ordering
may occur. Additionally, it was found that the EPR spectra are essent
ially influenced by thermal treatment and the ordering of the oxygen a
toms in the disordered part of the compound. (C) 1995 Academic Press,
Inc.