Physical properties of the misfit-layered (Bi,Pb)-Sr-Co-O system: Effect of hole doping into a triangular lattice formed by low-spin Co ions

Pb-doping effect on physical properties of misfit-layered (Bi,Pb)-Sr-Co-O system, in which Co ions form a two-dimensional triangular lattice, was investigated in detail by electronic transport, magnetization and, specific-heat measurements. Pb doping enhances the metallic behavior, suggesting that carriers are doped. Pb doping also enhances the magnetic correlation in this system and increases the magnetic transition temperature. We found the existence of the short-range magnetic correlation far above the transition temperature, which seems to induce the spin-glass state coexisting with the ferromagnetic long-range order at low temperatures. Specific-heat measurement suggests that the effective mass of the carrier in (Bi,Pb)-Sr-Co-O is not enhanced so much as reported in NaCo2O4. Based on these experimental results, we propose a two-band model that consists of narrow a(1g) and rather broad e(g)(') bands. The observed magnetic property and magnetotransport phenomena are explained well by this model.