Quantum paramagnetism in the hyperhoneycomb Kitaev magnet $\beta$-ZnIrO${}_3$

Abstract

A polycrystalline sample of the hyperhoneycomb iridate $\beta$-ZnIrO${}_3$ was synthesized via a topochemical reaction, and its structural, magnetic, and thermodynamic properties were investigated. The magnetization and heat capacity data show the absence of long-range magnetic order at least down to 2 K. A positive Curie-Weiss temperature ${\theta }_W\sim 45$ K probed by the temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility indicates that a Kitaev interaction is dominant. These observations suggest that a quantum spin liquid may have been realized. Furthermore, the observation of linear temperature-dependent contribution to the heat capacity with no magnetic field effect evidences gapless excitation. These facts are surprisingly contrary to the chemical disorder evidenced by the crystallographic analysis. By discussing the differences in the size effect of Z${}_2$-fluxes in 2D and 3D Kitaev magnets, we propose that there is a hidden mechanism to protect the quantum spin liquid state from chemical disorder.

arXiv comment6 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review Materials

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Cited by in corpus (7)

• CaCo${}_2$TeO${}_6$: A topochemically prepared 3$d^7$ honeycomb Kitaev magnet
• Ground-State Phase Diagram of the Kitaev-Heisenberg Model on a Three-dimensional Hyperhoneycomb Lattice
• High-temperature magnetic anomaly via suppression of antisite disorder through synthesis route modification in a Kitaev candidate Cu${}_2$IrO${}_3$
• Monoclinic distortion in hyperhoneycomb Kitaev material $\beta$-ZnIrO${}_3$ revealed by improved sample quality
• The nature of low-temperature spin-freezing in frustrated Kitaev magnets
• Evolution of crystal field and intraionic interactions in the ilmenite $A$IrO${}_3$ ($A$ = Mg, Zn, Cd) and hyperhoneycomb $\beta$-ZnIrO${}_3$
• Collapse of susceptibility and non-trivial spin dynamics in the hyper-honeycomb magnet $\beta$-Li${}_2$IrO${}_3$ under high pressure