COBALT ORDERING IN LAYERED BI2SR2COO6+DELTA-SINGLE CRYSTAL

Insulating Bi2Sr2CoO6+delta is nearly isomorphic with the Bi(2201)-type high-T(c) superconductors. Magnetic and calorimetric studies were carried out on single crystal samples of this layered compound. Based on magnetic measurements, the cobalt ions undergo a canted antiferromapetic ordering at T(N) = 159 K. A low-temperature neutron diffraction study of the magnetic structure is in progress. The molar magnetic susceptibility chi(ab)(H perpendicular-to c) above 200 K can be well fitted by the Curie-Weiss form chi(ab)(T) = chi0+C/(T-theta(p)), with chi0 = 0.56 cm3K/mol, Curie constant C = 3.2 x 10(-2) cm3K/mol and Curie-Weiss intercept theta(p) = 159 K. There is no magnetic specific heat peak, however, prevailing around T(N). This anomalous calorimetric behavior is attributed to the two-dimensional quantum spin fluctuation of Co spins above T(N) in the layered compound as previously observed for Cu spins in (Gd1.85Ce0.15)CuO4-delta and La2CuO4-delta.