Abstract
In this paper we report the synthesis, magnetization, and heat capacity of the frustrated magnets AErSe2(A=Na,K) which contain perfect triangular lattices of Er3+. The magnetization data suggests no long-range magnetic order exists in AErSe2(A=Na,K), which is consistent with the heat capacity measurements. Large anisotropy is observed between the magnetization within the ab plane and along the c axis of both compounds. When the magnetic field is applied along the ab plane, anomalies are observed at 1.8 μB in NaErSe2 at 0.2 T and 2.1 μB in KErSe2 at 0.18 T. Unlike NaErSe2, a plateaulike field-induced metamagnetic transition is observed for Hc below 1 K in KErSe2. Two broad peaks are observed in the heat capacity below 10 K indicating possible crystal electric field (CEF) effects and magnetic entropy released under different magnetic fields. All results indicate that AErSe2 are strongly anisotropic, frustrated magnets with field-induced transition at low temperature. The lack of signatures for long-range magnetic order implies that these materials are candidates for hosting a quantum spin liquid ground state.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 114413 |
Journal | Physical Review Materials |
Volume | 3 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 26 2019 |
Funding
The research is supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences (BES), Materials Sciences and Engineering Division. The x-ray diffraction analysis by R.C. was supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division. Work at Florida by J.S.K. and G.R.S. was supported by the US Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences, Contract No. DE-FG02-86ER45268. Q.Z. acknowledges the support of the Center for Emergent Materials, an NSF MRSEC, under Award Number DMR-1420451. This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy. The United States Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the United States Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, world-wide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for United States Government purposes. The Department of Energy will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan ( http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan ). The research is supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences (BES), Materials Sciences and Engineering Division. The x-ray diffraction analysis by R.C. was supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division. Work at Florida by J.S.K. and G.R.S. was supported by the US Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences, Contract No. DE-FG02-86ER45268. Q.Z. acknowledges the support of the Center for Emergent Materials, an NSF MRSEC, under Award Number DMR-1420451.