Suppression of the antiferromagnetic order by Zn doping in a possible Kitaev material Na${}_2$Co${}_2$TeO${}_6$

Abstract

Very recently, a 3$d$ based honeycomb cobaltate Na${}_2$Co${}_2$TeO${}_6$ has garnered tremendous attention due to the proposed proximity to the Kitaev spin-liquid state as its 4$d$/5$d$ counterparts. Here, we use Zn to substitute Co in a broad range and perform systematic studies on Na${}_2$Co${}_{2-x}$Zn${}_x$TeO${}_6$ by structural, magnetic, and thermodynamic measurements, and track the doping evolution of its magnetic ground states. Due to the extremely close radii of Zn${}^{2+}$ and high-spin Co${}^{2+}$ ions, the substitution can be easily achieved. X-ray diffractions reveal no structural transition but only minor changes on the lattice parameter $c$ over a wide substitution range $0\le x\le 1.5$. Magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements both suggest an antiferromagnetic ground state which is gradually suppressed with doping. It can survive with $x$ up to $\sim 1.0$. Then it evolves into a spin-glass phase with short-range order that is rapidly supplanted by a magnetically disordered state when $x\ge 1.3$. By summarizing all these data, we construct a magnetic phase diagram of Na${}_2$Co${}_{2-x}$Zn${}_x$TeO${}_6$. Our results demonstrate that the Zn doping can effectively suppress the magnetic order and induce a possibe quantum paramagnetic state. These may serve as a platform to investigate the Kitaev physics in this system.

9 pages, 5 figures