Quantum antiferromagnet bluebellite comprising a maple-leaf lattice made of spin-1/2 Cu2+ions

Spin-1/2 maple-leaf lattice antiferromagnets are expected to show interesting phenomena originating from frustration effects and quantum fluctuations. We report the hydrothermal synthesis of a powder sample of bluebellite Cu6IO3(OH)10Cl as a first potential candidate. Magnetization and heat capacity measurements reveal moderate frustration with a Curie-Weiss temperature of -35 K, and a magnetic transition at TN = 17 K. Surprisingly, the magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity above TN are well reproduced by the Bonner-Fisher model, which suggests that a one-dimensional spin correlation with a magnetic interaction of 25 K occurs in the apparently two-dimensional lattice. This emergent one-dimensionality cannot be explained by orbital ordering or dimensional reduction due to geometrical frustration. We believe that there is an unknown mechanism to cause one-dimensionality in the spin-1/2 maple-leaf lattice antiferromagnet.

Automated summary

In this study, the hydrothermal synthesis of bluebellite Cu6IO3(OH)10Cl as a potential candidate for spin-1/2 maple-leaf lattice antiferromagnets was reported. Measurements revealed a magnetic transition at 17K, indicating a one-dimensional spin correlation in the apparently two-dimensional lattice.