Spin glass behavior and exchange bias effect have been observed in antiferromagnetic SrMn3O6−x nanoribbons synthesized via a self-sacrificing template process. The magnetic field dependence of thermoremanent magnetization and isothermal remanent magnetization shows that the sample is good correspondence to spin glass and diluted antiferromagnetic system for the applied field H < 2 T and H > 2 T, respectively. By detailed analysis of training effect using Binek's model, we argue that the observed exchange bias effect in SrMn3O6−x nanoribbons arises entirely from an interface exchange coupling between the antiferromagnetic core and spin glass shell. The present study is useful for understanding the nature of shell layer and the origin of exchange bias effect in other antiferromagnetic nanosystems as well.

The magnetic properties of as-grown single-crystal SrMn3O6−δ nanoribbons synthesized by a simple molten-salt method can be significantly improved by a heat-treatment procedure, which enhances the ferromagnetism and spin-glass behavior. These enhanced properties might originate from a spin structure modulated by the thermodynamical equilibrium nonuniform oxygen distribution. Measurements of ac susceptibility prove the existence of a spin-glass phase in the postgrowth annealing SrMn3O6−δ nanoribbons, which differs from the only antiferromagnetic phase in the corresponding bulk material. Asymmetric magnetization hysteresis loops observed in applied magnetic fields H≤5 T are attributed to an exchange coupling between the spin-glass shell and the antiferromagnetic core of postgrowth annealing SrMn3O6−δ nanoribbons. Results suggest that the intrinsic phase inhomogeneity due to the surface effects of the nanostructural manganites may induce exchange anisotropy, which is of special interests for potential application in multifunctional spintronic devices.