Spin-Glass Behavior in Spinel Compound ZnCoTiO4

In this paper, we report a spin-glass (SG) behavior by comprehensive magnetic measurements in spinel compound ZnCoTiO4. The temperature dependence of DC magnetization exhibits a strong irreversibility under zero field cooled and field cooled processes. At the same time, AC susceptibility measurement reveals that the peak position moves towards high temperature with increasing frequency. These results unanimously indicate that a magnetic frustration behavior has occurred in this system. In addition, the relevant parameters (T0 = 14.4 K, τ0 = 8.3165 × 10−11 s, zν = 4.53) are observed by the data of AC susceptibility measurement, suggesting a typical SG behavior. The magnetic relaxation behavior (MIRM vs. t) further manifests a SG behavior in ZnCoTiO4. Furthermore, the origin of SG behavior in ZnCoTiO4 may be contributed to atomic disorders or the competition between ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) interactions, or both.