From (S=1) Spin Hexamer to Spin Tetradecamer by CuO Interstitials in A2Cu3O(CuO)x(SO4)3 (A = alkali)

(Na,K)(2)Cu3O(SO4)(3) compounds form structural chains of Cu-6 hexameric units with nominal S = 1 spins due to the interplay between inner strong antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic exchanges. We show here that the lattice relaxation after the replacement of alkali by larger Rb and Cs ones is accompanied by the insertion of neutral CuO species into (Rb,Cs)(2)Cu3O(CuO)(x)(SO4)(3) phases. Structurally, interstitial CuO links the next two Cu-6 units in longer Cu-14 tetradecameric ones. For A = Cs (x = 0.5), the cationic ordering is perfect inside a double-cell superstructure. Magnetically, the original Cu-14 units consist of frustrated fragments of an S = 1/2 spin ladder, with ferromagnetic rung-like but antiferromagnetic leg-like and next-nearest neighbor couplings. It returns S = 1 Cu-14 spin clusters, effective around 100 K. Our density functional theory calculations and susceptibility fits also show that at low temperatures they interact in two-dimensional lattices, despite the existence of short inter-Cu-Cu distances between the next two clusters along pseudo-one-dimensional chains.

Automated summary

The study reveals that the lattice relaxation and insertion of neutral CuO species occur when replacing alkali metals with larger Rb and Cs ions. The magnetic properties show complex behavior of S = 1 Cu-14 spin clusters.