Spin-glass-like behavior of the incommensurate composite phaseLaCrS3

(${\mathrm{La}}_{0.95}$ ${\mathit{V}}_{0.05}$S${)}_{1.19}$ ${\mathrm{CrS}}_2$ (V stands for vacancy, often abbreviated ‘‘${\mathrm{LaCrS}}_3$’’) belongs to the family of composite misfit layer compounds with a structural formulation (MX${)}_{1+\mathit{x}}$(${\mathit{TX}}_2$ ${)}_{\mathit{m}}$ [G. A. Wiegers and A. Meerschaut, in Incommensurate Sandwiched Layered Compounds, edited by A. Meerschaut (Trans. Tech. Pub., Zurich, 1992)]. Chromium is the only magnetic element and antiferromagnetic interactions (${\mathrm{\theta }}_{\mathit{p}}$=-390 K) between chromium atoms [d(Cr-Cr${)}_{\mathrm{av}}$=3.435 Å] are taking place. At low temperatures (T<80 K), the susceptibility is largely dependent of the cooling mode: ZFC (zero field cooled) and FC (field cooled). A great number of measurements were performed: magnetization, thermo- and isothermal remanent magnetization, and ac susceptibility on powder and on a single crystal. They all show that ${\mathrm{LaCrS}}_3$ has complex magnetic properties which are reminiscent of spin-glass behavior.