Magnetic Properties of Isostructural BaCoP2O7, BaNiP2O7, and BaCuP2O7 Studied with dc and ac Magnetization and Specific Heat

Analogous Chain Selenite Chlorides Ba2M(SeO3)2Cl2 (M = Cu2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Mn2+) and Pb2Cu(SeO3)2Cl2 with Tunable Spin S: Syntheses and Characterizations

A series of analogous chain selenite chlorides Ba2M(SeO3)2Cl2 (M = Cu 1, Ni 2, Co 3, Mn 4) and Pb2Cu(SeO3)2Cl2 5 with tunable spin S from S = 1/2 to S = 5/2 have been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized. These analogues crystallized in the orthorhombic Pnnm space group (monoclinic P21/n space group for 5) all containing M2+-SeO3-M2+ spin chains, which are further separated by the Ba2+ ions (Pb2+ for 5). The magnetic susceptibility results of 1, 2, and 5 show broad maxima around 80.0, 18.9, and 78.0 K, respectively, indicating good one-dimensional (1D) magnetism. Meanwhile, no long-range order (LRO) is observed down to 2 K for both 1 and 5, while the isostructural compounds 2, 3, and 4 exhibit LRO at 3.4 K, 10.8 K, and 5.7 K, respectively, which are further confirmed by the heat capacity and electron spin resonance results, as well as the observed spin-flop transitions in the M-H curves measured at 2 K below TN. The magnetizations of 1-5 at 7 T are still far from saturation. In addition, thermal stability and FT-IR and UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy of 1-5 are reported.

Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of two new spin-chain compounds Ca2Ni(HSeO3)2(SeO3)2 and Na2Cu(SeO3)2·2H2O

Two new selenite compounds Ca₂Ni(HSeO₃)₂(SeO₃)₂ (CaNi) and Na₂Cu(SeO₃)₂·2H₂O (NaCu) were obtained by a hydrothermal method. Both compounds crystallize in the triclinic system of space group P1̄, featuring a selenite-bridged one-dimensional (1D) spin-chain structure running along the a-axis. Magnetic measurements indicate that CaNi undergoes a long-range antiferromagnetic order (LRO) at T_N = ∼3.8 K, while NaCu does not exhibit a LRO down to 2 K but the onset of a short-range correlation at T_M = ∼30 K. The intrachain exchange coupling J/k_B = -2.59 K for CaNi and J/k_B = -47.13 K for NaCu can be estimated by a fit using the 1D spin-chain model. The thermogravimetric analyses show that both compounds are stable below 130 °C. The UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra indicate that the band gaps of CaNi and NaCu are 4.38 eV and 3.18 eV, respectively.

Chemistry of Quantum Spin Liquids

Quantum spin liquids are an exciting playground for exotic physical phenomena and emergent many-body quantum states. The realization and discovery of quantum spin liquid candidate materials and associated phenomena lie at the intersection of solid-state chemistry, condensed matter physics, and materials science and engineering. In this review, we provide the current status of the crystal chemistry, synthetic techniques, physical properties, and research methods in the field of quantum spin liquids. We highlight a number of specific quantum spin liquid candidate materials and their structure-property relationships, elucidating their fascinating behavior and connecting it to the intricacies of their structures. Furthermore, we share our thoughts on defects and their inevitable presence in materials, of which quantum spin liquids are no exception, which can complicate the interpretation of characterization of these materials, and urge the community to extend their attention to materials preparation and data analysis, cognizant of the impact of defects. This review was written with the intention of providing guidance on improving the materials design and growth of quantum spin liquids, and to paint a picture of the beauty of the underlying chemistry of this exciting class of materials.

Crystal-to-crystal transformation of a new selenite compound CaNi2(SeO3)3·2H2O induced by dehydration

A new zemannite-like compound CaNi₂(SeO₃)₃·2H₂O (1) is found to exhibit crystal-to-crystal transformations upon heating, resulting in a dehydrated form of CaNi₂(SeO₃)₃·1.5H₂O (2) and an anhydrous form of CaNi₂(SeO₃)₃ (3).

Uniform Spin-1/2-Chain System with a Weak Interchain Interaction

A new hydroxyl sulfate-fluoride compound, Lu₂Cu(SO₄)₂(OH)₃F·H₂O, was obtained using a hydrothermal method. This compound is found to crystallize in a monoclinic space group of P2₁/c, exhibiting a uniform chain structure along the b axis, in which the chains are composed of elongated CuO₄₊₂ octahedra and further separated by SO₄ tetrahedra and Lu³⁺ ions. The shortest Cu-Cu distance inside the chains is ∼3.394(1) Å, while that between neighboring chains is ∼7.878(1) Å. Magnetic and heat capacity measurements indicate that this compound does not possess long-range magnetic order until 2 K. The fitting of spin-chain models suggests a strong intrachain interaction J and a weak interchain interaction J' with a small value of |J'/J| < 3.20(2) × 10^-3, indicating that Lu₂Cu(SO₄)₂(OH)₃F·H₂O may be a nearly ideal one-dimensional spin-¹/₂-chain system.

Synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of new layered phosphate halides Sr2Cu5(PO4)4X2·8H2O (X = Cl, Br) with a crown-like building unit

Two new compounds Sr₂Cu₅(PO₄)₄X₂·8H₂O (X = Cl and Br) are synthesized by a conventional hydrothermal method. Sr₂Cu₅(PO₄)₄Cl₂·8H₂O crystallizes in the tetragonal system with a space group of P42₁2, while Sr₂Cu₅(PO₄)₄Br₂·8H₂O crystallizes in the space group P4/nmm, which are found to have a similar framework of layered structure, in which the crown-like {Cu₅(PO₄)₄X₂} building units connect to each other forming a 2D corrugated sheet with vacancies, while the Sr²⁺ cations are located along the vacancies. The spin lattice of two compounds built by Cu²⁺ ions shows a new type of corrugated square. Magnetic measurements confirmed that both Sr₂Cu₅(PO₄)₄X₂·8H₂O (X = Cl and Br) exhibit antiferromagnetic ordering at low temperatures. A fit of theoretical model shows exchange interaction J = -25.62 K for the Cl-analogue and J/k_B = -26.47 K for the Br-analogue.

Two S = 1/2 one-dimensional barium copper phosphates showing antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic intrachain interactions

Two barium copper phosphates, BaCu2(PO4)2(H2O) (1) and Ba2Cu(HPO4)(PO4)(OH) (2), were synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions. The Cu cation in 1 adopts a CuO4(H2O) square pyramidal coordination configuration, forming alternating chains along the b axis through alternative corner and edge sharing, while the geometry of the Cu center in 2 is a CuO4(OH)2 octahedron which further connects each other by edge sharing to constitute uniform chains along the b axis. Magnetic behaviors of both compounds were analyzed by susceptibility, magnetization and heat capacity measurements. The dominant intrachain couplings are antiferromagnetic in 1 with a long-range ordering at 14 K and ferromagnetic in 2 without long-range ordering above 2 K. The first principles calculations indicate that the intrachain ferromagnetic couplings in 2 originate from Cu(1)-O(7)H-Cu(1) dpσ correlation superexchanges. The susceptibility data of compounds 1 and 2 are fitted by using suitable antiferromagnetic chain and ferromagnetic chain models, respectively. In addition, we report the results of the infrared and thermal measurements of both the compounds.

Spectroscopic properties of five-coordinated Co2+ in phosphates

Co3(PO4)2, SrCo2(PO4)2, Co2P2O7, BaCoP2O7 and SrCoP2O7 present different geometries of five-coordinated Co(2+) (([5])Co(2+)) sites, coexisting with ([6])Co(2+) in Co3(PO4)2 and Co2P2O7, and ([4])Co(2+) in SrCo2(PO4)2. ([5])Co K-edge XANES spectra show that the intensity of the pre-edge and main-edge is intermediate between those of ([6])- and ([4])Co. Diffuse reflectance spectra show the contributions of Co(2+) in (D3h) symmetry for SrCo2(PO4)2, and (C4v) symmetry for BaCoP2O7 and SrCoP2O7. In Co3(PO4)2 and Co2P2O7 the multiple transitions observed arise from energy level splitting and may be labeled in (C2v) symmetry. Spectroscopic data confirm that (D3h) and (C4v) symmetries may be distinguished upon the intensity of the optical absorption bands and crystal field splitting values. We discuss the influence of the geometrical distortion and of the nature of the next nearest neighbors.

Electronic structure of Na(2)CuP(2)O(7): a nearly 2D Heisenberg antiferromagnetic system

We have employed first principles calculations to study the electronic structure and the implications for the magnetic properties of Na(2)CuP(2)O(7). Using the self-consistent tight-binding linearized muffin-tin orbital method and the Nth-order muffin-tin orbital downfolding method, we have calculated the various intrachain and interchain hopping parameters between the magnetic Cu(2+) ions. Our calculations for Na(2)CuP(2)O(7) reveal dominant intrachain hopping, but in contrast to the typical quantum spin chains the interchain hoppings are not negligible. The Wannier function plot of the Cu d(x(2)-y(2)) orbitals shows that the exchange interactions are primarily mediated by the oxygens and the distance between the oxygens in Na(2)CuP(2)O(7) is favorable for both intrachain and interchain interactions, suggesting the inapplicability of the one-dimensional Heisenberg model for this system, in agreement with recent experimental results.

Magnetic Properties of Synthetic Libethenite Cu2PO4OH: a New Spin-Gap System

Synthetic mineral libethenite Cu(2)PO(4)OH was prepared by the hydrothermal method, and its structure at 200 K was refined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure of Cu(2)PO(4)OH is built up from Cu2(2)O(6)(OH)2 dimers of edge-sharing Cu2O(4)(OH) trigonal bipyramids and [Cu1(2)O(6)(OH)(2)] proportional chains of edge-sharing Cu1O(4)(OH)(2) octahedra. Magnetic properties of Cu(2)PO(4)OH were investigated by magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, and specific heat measurements. Cu(2)PO(4)OH is a spin-gap system with a spin gap of about 139 K. It was shown by spin dimer analysis that, to a first approximation, the magnetic structure of Cu(2)PO(4)OH is described by an isolated square-spin cluster model defined by the Cu1-O-Cu2 superexchange J with Cu1...Cu2 = 3.429 A. The fitting analysis of the magnetic susceptibility data with a square-spin cluster model results in J/k(B) = 138 K. Specific heat data show that Cu(2)PO(4)OH does not undergo a long-range magnetic ordering down to 1.8 K. We also report vibrational properties studied with Raman spectroscopy and the thermal stability of Cu(2)PO(4)OH.

Intermolecular Covalent π−π Bonding Interaction Indicated by Bond Distances, Energy Bands, and Magnetism in Biphenalenyl Biradicaloid Molecular Crystal

Density-functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed for energy band structure and geometry optimizations on the stepped pi-chain, the isolated molecule and (di)cations of the chain, and various related molecules of a neutral biphenalenyl biradicaloid (BPBR) organic semiconductor 2. The dependence of the geometries on crystal packing provides indirect evidence for the intermolecular covalent pi-pi bonding interaction through space between neighboring pi-stacked phenalenyl units along the chain. The two phenalenyl electrons on each molecule, occupying the singly occupied molecular orbitals (SOMOs), are participating in the intermolecular covalent pi-pi bonding making them partially localized on the phenalenyl units and less available for intramolecular delocalization. The band structure shows a relatively large bandwidth and small band gap indicative of good pi-pi overlap and delocalization between neighboring pi-stacked phenalenyl units. A new interpretation is presented for the magnetism of the stepped pi-chain of 2 using an alternating Heisenberg chain model, which is consistent with DFT total energy calculations for 2 and prevails against the previous interpretation using a Bleaney-Bowers dimer model. The obtained transfer integrals and the magnetic exchange parameters fit well into the framework of a Hubbard model. All presented analyses on molecular geometries, energy bands, and magnetism provide a coherent picture for 2 pointing toward an alternating chain with significant intermolecular through-space covalent pi-pi bonding interactions in the molecular crystal. Surprisingly, both the intermolecular transfer integrals and exchange parameters are larger than the intramolecular through-bond values indicating the effectiveness of the intermolecular overlap of the phenalenyl SOMO electrons.

Ferromagnetic ordering in a new nickel polyborate NiB12O14(OH)10

A new nickel polyborate, NiB12O14(OH)10 was synthesized using boric acid as a flux. This material has two-dimensional borate layers with a quasi-square lattice of Ni2+. The Ni2+ ions locate in the plane of the two-dimensional layer, bridged through BnO(n+1) chains in the plane and connected with the three-membered ring borate groups out of the plane. The dc and ac magnetic susceptibility, magnetization and specific heat measurements show that this material undergoes a weak ferromagnetic phase transition at Tc = 5.8 K. At T < Tc, a metamagnetic phase transition is observed at about 5 T, associated by a spin-flop, suggesting the ferromagnetic ordering is induced by an antiferromagnetic interaction. A broad maximum in the ac susceptibility at TM = 23-24 K indicates an intermediate short-range ordering.