Synthesis, physical and magnetic properties of CuAlCr${}_4$S${}_8$: a new Cr-based breathing pyrochlore

Abstract

We present the synthesis and physical properties of a new breathing pyrochlore magnet CuAlCr${}_4$S${}_8$ with the help of synchrotron x-ray diffraction (XRD), magnetization under ambient and applied hydrostatic pressure, heat capacity, and muon spin relaxation/rotation ($\mu$SR) measurements. CuAlCr${}_4$S${}_8$ exhibits positive thermal expansion with concave upward temperature dependence. We observed a sharp antiferromagnetic ordering transition of a purely magnetic nature at 20 K, which shifts by as much as 3.2 K on the application of 600 MPa pressure. The breathing factor (B${}_f$ = $J^{\prime }/J$) in breathing pyrochlores can be an important parameter to tune the magnetic ground states of the pyrochlore lattice. The breathing factor can be modulated through breathing ratio, the ratio of sizes of the two tetrahedra, by using different elements at A and A' sites in the breathing pyrochlore structure. We find that CuAlCr${}_4$S${}_8$ has a breathing ratio of 1.0663(8), which is comparable to other sulfur breathing pyrochlores.

7 pages, 7 figures

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• Breathing pyrochlore magnet CuGaCr${}_4$S${}_8$: Magnetic, thermodynamic, and dielectric properties
• Mössbauer spectroscopy study of the magnetostructural and spin-state transitions in the breathing pyrochlore LiFeCr${}_4$O${}_8$
• Synthesis and characterization of the novel breathing pyrochlore compound Ba3Tm2Zn5O11
• Theta electromagnetism in quantum spin ice: Microscopic analysis of improper symmetries
• The origin and scarcity of breathing pyrochlore lattices in spinel oxides