We investigated the
crystal structure and magnetic structure in
cobaltite-platinate double perovskite of La
2
CoPtO
6
, employing various techniques of X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction,
and the extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis. It is shown
that the crystal symmetry is maintained as
P
2
1
/
n
in the temperature range of <500 °C,
whereas the lattice constants and the Co–Co distances undergo
a continuous structural evolution toward the high-symmetry phases
with increasing temperature. The Co–O bonds were overall longer
and had a larger degree of structural and thermal disorders than the
Pt–O bonds. As for the magnetism, an antiferromagnetic order
is stabilized in the Co
2+
sublattice at temperatures below
28 K. It is demonstrated that owing to the substantial distortions
(quantified by a distortion parameter Σ > 0.03 Å) of
the
Co–Co networks, the system is not subject to spin frustration
effect. Details in the magnetic structure are determined; at 12 K,
the Co magnetic moment was (0.8, 0, 2.7) Bohr magneton, the magnetic
propagation vector was (−0.5, 0, 0.5), and the magnetic symmetry
was preferably Γ
1
(A
g
).