Nuclear and magnetic structures and magnetic properties of the layered cobalt hydroxysulfate Co5(OH)6(SO4)2(H2O)4 and its deuterated analogue, Co5(OD)6(SO4)2(D2O)4

The nuclear, magnetic properties and heat capacity of the layered ferromagnet Co5(OH)6(SO4)2(H2O)4 are reported. The results point to the presence of near-neighbor ferromagnetic coupling within the layers, resulting in long-range ordering only within the layer, while the interlayer cobalt atom has a randomly oriented moment.