Strengthening of ferromagnetic intrachain coupling by Ge substitution in quasi-one-dimensional spin chain compound: Ca3Co2O6

Detail study of the structural and magnetic properties of oxide systems, Ca3Co2-XGeXO6 (X = 0.000, 0.015 and 0.030), have been carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and dc magnetization techniques respectively. Rietveld refinement of room temperature XRD data shows that all the Ge doped compounds are isostructural with Ca3Co2O6 (CCO) and there is no remarkable change in lattice parameters. At the same time, it is evident from magnetization study that ferromagnetic intrachain coupling gradually increases with Ge substitution. Whereas no significant modification is observed in the interaction strength of surrounding FM chains with Ge doping. Thus, the strengthening of intrachain interaction results in ideal one-dimensional behavior at high temperature in Ge substituted compounds compared to CCO.