Synthesis and Anisotropic Magnetism in Quantum Spin Liquid Candidates $A$YbSe${}_2$ ($A$ = K and Rb)

Abstract

Quantum spin liquid (QSL) state in rare-earth triangular lattice has attracted much attention recently due to its potential application in quantum computing and communication. Here we report the single-crystal growth synthesis, crystal structure characterizations and magnetic properties of $A$YbSe${}_2$ ($A$= K, Rb) compounds. The X-ray diffraction analysis shows that $A$YbSe${}_2$ ($A$ = K and Rb) crystallizes in a trigonal space group, $R$-3$m$ (No. 166) with Z = 3. $A$YbSe${}_2$ possesses a two-dimensional (2D) Yb-Se-Yb layered structure formed by edged-shared YbSe${}_6$ octahedra. The magnetic properties are highly anisotropic for both title compounds and no long-range order is found down to 0.4 K, revealing the possible QSL ground state in these compounds. The isothermal magnetization exhibits one-third magnetization plateau when the magnetic fields are applied in $ab$-plane. Heat capacity is performed along both $ab$-plane and $c$-axis, and features the characteristic dome for triangular magnetic lattice compounds as a function of magnetic fields. Due to the change of the interlayer and intralayer distance of Yb${}^{3+}$, the dome shifts to low fields from KYbSe${}_2$ to RbYbSe${}_2$. All these results indicate the $A$YbSe${}_2$ family presents unique frustrated magnetism close to the possible QSL and noncolinear spin states.

9 pages, 7 figures

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Cited by in corpus (18)

• Witnessing quantum criticality and entanglement in the triangular antiferromagnet KYbSe${}_2$
• Complete field-induced spectral response of the spin-1/2 triangular-lattice antiferromagnet CsYbSe${}_2$
• Spectral function of the $J_1-J_2$ Heisenberg model on the triangular lattice
• Non-linear magnons and exchange Hamiltonians of delafossite proximate quantum spin liquids
• Rare-Earth Chalcogenides: An Inspiring Playground For Exploring Frustrated Magnetism
• Nearly-Resonant Crystalline-Phononic Coupling in Quantum Spin Liquid Candidate CsYbSe${}_2$
• Phase diagram of the quantum spin-1/2 Heisenberg-$\Gamma$ model on a frustrated zigzag chain
• Role of alkaline metal in the rare-earth triangular antiferromagnet KYbO${}_2$
• Unusual dynamics of spin-1/2 antiferromagnets on the triangular lattice in magnetic field
• Pyrochlore NaYbO2: A potential Quantum Spin Liquid Candidate
• Yb${}^{3+}$ $f$-$f$ excitations in NaYbSe${}_2$: benchmarking embedded-cluster quantum chemical schemes for 4$f$ insulators
• Field-driven transition from quantum spin liquid to magnetic order in triangular-lattice antiferromagnets
• Partially disordered Heisenberg antiferromagnet with short-range stripe correlations
• Magnetic field-temperature phase diagram of spin-1/2 triangular lattice antiferromagnet KYbSe${}_2$
• Random singlet physics in exchange disordered 2D triangular YbCu${}_{1.14}$Se${}_2$
• More bridging ligands activate direct exchange: the case of anisotropic Kitaev effective magnetic interactions
• Quantum spin liquid ground state with the evidence of roton-like excitations at elevated temperatures in the triangular-lattice delafossite YbCuSe${}_2$
• Finite Spinon Density-of-States in Triangular-Lattice Delafossite TlYbSe${}_2$