Extension of the zinc paratacamite phase diagram: Probing the effect of spin vacancies in an S=12 kagome antiferromagnet

M. A. de Vries, D. Wulferding, P. Lemmens, J. S. Lord, A. Harrison, P. Bonville, F. Bert, and P. Mendels
Phys. Rev. B 85, 014422 – Published 20 January 2012

Abstract

We report on the extension of the phase diagram of the magnetic model system zinc paratacamite, ZnxCu4x(OH)6Cl2 (0x1), with compositions x>1, up to 1.2. This amounts to diamagnetic doping of the kagome lattice of antiferromagnetically coupled Cu2+ with S=1/2 in what was hitherto known as the end member in the series: herbertsmithite of stoichiometry ZnCu3(OH)6Cl2. Combining chemical analysis, x-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility measurements, Raman spectroscopy and muon spin relaxation spectroscopy we conclude the following: (i) Herbertsmithite can be synthesized in stoichiometric form, but it is affected by antisite disorder of 7% in Cu2+ content, implying that for x=1, 7% of the Cu kagome sites is occupied by Zn2+. (ii) The Zn content can be increased up to x1.2. No qualitatively new behavior is found for the diamagnetically doped kagome lattice, only a continuation of the trends observed for samples with x<1 as x is increased.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 9 November 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.85.014422

©2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

M. A. de Vries1,*, D. Wulferding2, P. Lemmens2, J. S. Lord3, A. Harrison1,4, P. Bonville5, F. Bert6, and P. Mendels6

  • 1CSEC and School of Chemistry, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ, United Kingdom
  • 2Institute for Condensed Matter Physics, TU Braunschweig, Mendelssohnsstrasse 3, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany
  • 3ISIS Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 OQX, United Kingdom
  • 4Institut Laue-Langevin, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, F-38000 Grenoble, France
  • 5Service de Physique de l’État Condensé, DSM, CEA Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
  • 6Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Universite Paris X, Orsay, France

  • *m.a.devries@ed.ac.uk

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 85, Iss. 1 — 1 January 2012

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review B

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×