2021/11/01 by A. Bandyopadhyay, A. Chakraborty, Bandyopadhyay, Abhisek +19
Physics and Astronomy · Mathematics · #Advanced Condensed Matter Physics #Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism #Algebraic structures and combinatorial models
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2111.00925
Spin-orbit coupling (SOC) offers a large variety of novel and extraordinary magnetic and electronic properties in otherwise `ordinary pool' of heavy ion oxides. Here we present a detailed study on an apparently isolated hexagonal 2H spin-chain d4 iridate Sr3LiIrO6 (SLIO) with geometric frustration. Our structural studies clearly reveal perfect Li-Ir chemical order in this compound. Our combined experimental and \it ab-initio electronic structure investigations establish a magnetic ground state with finite Ir5+ magnetic moments in this compound, contrary to the anticipated nonmagnetic J=0 state. Furthermore, the dc magnetic susceptibility (χ), heat capacity (Cp) and spin-polarized density functional theory (DFT) studies unravel that despite having noticeable antiferromagnetic correlation among the Ir5+ local moments, this SLIO system evades any kind of magnetic ordering down to at least 2 K due to geometrical frustration, arising from the comparable interchain Ir-O-O-Ir superexchange interaction strengths, hence promoting SLIO as a potential quantum spin liquid candidate.