Evolution of cobalt spin states and magnetic coupling along the SrCo1−xSbxO3−δ system: correlation with the crystal structure
Abstract
The m space group in the x = 0.2 composition from
m cubic symmetry. All the samples present an antiferromagnetic behaviour with a G-type (k = 0) magnetic structure. The increase of the Sb content induces the weakening of the crystal field (Δcf) in the octahedral environment promoting the Co spin-transition from the intermediate-spin to the high-spin configuration, as evidenced by the decrease of the octahedral distortion, increment of the unit-cell volume and enhancement of the ordered magnetic moment.