Looking for a quantum spin liquid in the BaNi₂(V_1−xP_x)₂O₈ spin 1 honeycomb system

ABSTRACT

The general magnetic characterisation of a series of materials in the BaNi₂V₂O₈-BaNi₂P₂O₈ layered honeycomb spin-1 system is reported. A change from dominantly 2-dimensional (2D) to dominantly 3-dimentional (3D) magnetic character is observed on progressing from the pure V to the pure P material. The change is continuous with composition in BaNi₂(V_1−xP_x)₂O₈. But a variety of features in the temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibilities at low temperatures suggest that the magnetic system is complex. Although the Curie–Weiss temperature becomes less strongly negative on increasing the P content, an indication of increased competition between different types of magnetic coupling, the system does not appear to be approaching a quantum spin liquid state at low temperatures.

KEYWORDS:

• Magnetic oxides
• crystal structure
• magnetic phase transition

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Department of Energy, Division of Basic Energy Sciences, through the institute for Quantum Matter at Johns Hopkins University, grant DE-FG02-08ER46544. The authors gratefully acknowledge discussions with Oleg Tchernyshyov.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Tai Kong http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5064-3464

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by U.S. Department of Energy: [grant number DE-FG02-08ER46544].