Synthesis and characterization of single crystals of the spin-(1)/(2) kagome-lattice antiferromagnets ZnxCu4-x(OH)6Cl2
Abstract
The Zn-paratacamite family, ZnxCu4-x(OH)6Cl2 for x⩾ 0.33, is an ideal system for studying spin-(1)/(2) frustrated magnetism in the form of antiferromagnetic Cu2+ kagome planes. Here we report a new synthesis method by which high-quality millimeter-sized single crystals of Zn-paratacamite have been produced. These crystals have been characterized by metal analysis, x-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, and thermodynamic measurements. The x=1 member of the series displays a magnetic susceptibility that is slightly anisotropic at high temperatures with χc>χab. Neutron and synchrotron x-ray diffraction experiments confirm the quality of these x=1 single crystals and indicate no obvious structural transition down to temperatures of T=2 K.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review B
- Pub Date:
- March 2011
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevB.83.100402
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1102.2179
- Bibcode:
- 2011PhRvB..83j0402H
- Keywords:
-
- 75.30.Gw;
- 81.10.-h;
- 75.50.Ee;
- 61.05.cp;
- Magnetic anisotropy;
- Methods of crystal growth;
- physics of crystal growth;
- Antiferromagnetics;
- X-ray diffraction;
- Condensed Matter - Strongly Correlated Electrons;
- Condensed Matter - Materials Science
- E-Print:
- 4 pages, 3 figures, accepted by PRB rapid communication