Griffiths phase and spontaneous exchange bias in La$_{1.5}$Sr$_{0.5}$CoMn$_{0.5}$Fe$_{0.5}$O$_{6}$

Abstract: La${1.5}$Sr${0.5}$CoMn${0.5}$Fe${0.5}$O${6}$ (LSCMFO) compound was prepared by solid state reaction and its structural, electronic and magnetic properties were investigated. The material forms in rhombohedral $R\bar{3}c$ structure, and the presence of distinct magnetic interactions leads to the formation of a Griffiths phase above its FM transition temperature (150 K), possibly related to the nucleation of small short-ranged ferromagnetic clusters. At low temperatures, a spin glass-like phase emerges and the system exhibits both the conventional and the spontaneous exchange bias (EB) effects. These results resemble those reported for La${1.5}$Sr${0.5}$CoMnO${6}$ but are discrepant to those found when Fe partially substitutes Co in La${1.5}$Sr${0.5}$(Co${1-x}$Fe${x}$)MnO$_{6}$, for which the EB effect is observed in a much broader temperature range. The unidirectional anisotropy observed for LSCMFO is discussed and compared with those of resembling double-perovskite compounds, being plausibly explained in terms of its structural and electronic properties.