Magnetic frustration of graphite oxide

Delocalized pi electrons in aromatic ring structures generally induce diamagnetism. In graphite oxide, however, pi electrons develop ferromagnetism due to the unique structure of the material. The pi electrons are only mobile in the graphitic regions of graphite oxide, which are dispersed and surrounded by sp(3)-hybridized carbon atoms. The spin-glass behavior of graphite oxide is corroborated by the frequency dependence of its AC susceptibility. The magnetic susceptibility data exhibit a negative Curie temperature, field irreversibility, and slow relaxation. The overall results indicate that magnetic moments in graphite oxide slowly interact and develop magnetic frustration.