SUCCESSIVE MAGNETIC PHASE-TRANSITIONS IN CUCCO1-CCL2-FECL3 GBICS

CucCo1-cCl2-FeCl3 GBICs (0 less than or equal to c less than or equal to 1) undergo magnetic phase transitions at T-c1, T-c2 and T-c3 (T-c3 < T-c2 < T-c1) depending on the Cu concentration. The phase transition s at T-c1 and T-c3 show spin glass behaviors. The phase transitions at T-c2 and T-c3 are related to the in-plane spin orders of CucCo1-cCl2 layers and FeCl3 layers, respectively. The spin orders in the CucCo1-c Cl2 layers and the FeCl3 layers are coupled to each other through an i nterplanar exchange interaction, leading to the appearance of phase tr ansition at T-c1 and the decrease of T-c2 with increasing Cu concentra tion. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.