Coexistence of spin glass and antiferromagnetic orders in Ba3Fe2.15W0.85O8.72

Ba3Fe2.15W0.85O8.72 has been grown as large single crystals using the floating-zone method, permitting very precise characterization of the nuclear and magnetic structures by neutron and synchrotron diffraction methods. The results of our structural investigation are combined with dc and ac magnetization and heat capacity measurements to give an unusually complete and detailed picture of a complex magnetic system. The compound crystallizes in the hexagonal perovskite structure (space group P63/mmc) and reveals antiferromagnetic order below TN = 290 K. Frequency-dependent ac susceptibility and the presence of magnetic viscosity suggest the onset of a spin glass component in this material below Tf = 60 K. These findings are discussed on the basis of detailed analysis of the crystalo-chemical properties, supported by ab initio (density functional theory) calculations. (paper)