Inhomogeneous magnetic phase in Co-Al-O spinel nanocrystals

We report on the crystallographic structure and magnetism of 5-nm Co-Al-O spinel nanocrystals synthesized under supercritical hydrothermal conditions. Structural examination using powder X-ray diffraction and chemical analysis showed the composition of the sample to be Co0.47Al2.36O4 rather than the stoichiometric composition of CoAl2O4. The site occupancy of Co on the A-site forming the diamond lattice was 0.47, which is slightly larger than the site percolation limit. Magnetization measurements showed that magnetic clusters emerged below 40 K. At temperatures below 40 K, a Griffiths-phase-like inhomogeneous state appeared in the sample in which magnetic clusters and paramagnetic spins coexisted. The dc-paramagnetic and ac-susceptibilities exhibited an anomaly below 7 K.