Crystal structure and magnetic properties of the LaCo0.5Fe0.5O3 perovskite

The magnetic and crystal structures of the LaCo0.5Fe0.5O3 perovskite are investigated. It is established that the unit cell of this compound at room temperature is characterized by rhombohedral distortions. As the temperature decreases, the compound undergoes a structural phase transition from the rhombohedral phase to the orthorhombic phase in the temperature range 200–300 K. The LaCo0.5Fe0.5O3 perovskite has an antiferromagnetic structure with the G z spatial orientation of the antiferromagnetic vector. The magnetic properties of the LaCo0.5Fe0.5O3 perovskite are interpreted within a model according to which the ground state of Co3+ ions is a low-spin state and the existence of the weak ferromagnetic component is associated with the exchange interactions between the Fe3+ ions.