Magnetic Structure of CsCoCl3 at 4.2 °K

Abstract

AbstractThe compound CsCoCl3 is paramagnetic at room temperature and belongs to the space group D−P63/mmc with two formula units per unit cell (CsNiCl3 type structure). The neutron diffraction of CsCoCl3 powder and single crystal samples were studied as a function of sample temperature. A transition to antiferromagnetism was found at TN = 21.5 °K. The magnetic structure determined from the diffraction pattern at 4.2 °K is collinear and consists of ferrimagnetic ab planes stacked antiferromagnetically along the c‐axis with spins parallel to the c‐axis. The magnetic moment consistent with the diffraction at 4.2 °K is (3.0 ± 0.3) and (2.3 ± 0.3) Bohr magnetons per Co2+ ion according to the powder and single crystal data, respectively. The magnetic unit cell is the hexagonal H‐cell (a = √3a0, c = c0) with six formula units per unit cell. This structure belongs to the magnetic space group P63′/m′cm′ (III‐ P63′/m′cm′). The powder and single crystal data show that the magnetic structure near TN is different from the magnetic structure at 4.2 °K.