Evidence for magnetic clusters in BaCoO₃

Magnetic properties of the transition metal oxide BaCoO$_3$ are analyzed on the basis of the experimental and theoretical literature available via ab inito calculations. These can be explained by assuming the material to be formed by noninteracting ferromagnetic clusters of about 1.2 nm in diameter separated by about 3 diameters. Above about 50 K, the so-called blocking temperature, superparamagnetic behavior of the magnetic clusters occurs and, above 250 K, paramagnetism sets in.