Structure and Magnetic Properties of a Maple Leaf antiferromagnet Ho${}_3$ScO${}_6$

Abstract

Ho${}_3$ScO${}_6$ harbours a frustrated Maple Leaf Lattice (MLL). It crystalizes in the Mg${}_3$TeO${}_6$-type structure, and has a centrosymmetric trigonal space group (R$\bar{3}$). This system contains stacked layers of magnetic rings along the c-axis consisting of six magnetic Ho${}^{3+}$ ions forming Ho hexagons, which are connected into a 2-dimensional network by equilateral and isosceles triangles to form a rare example of a MLL. Long range magnetic order is reached below $T_N=4.1$ K with a 120${}^{\circ }$ spin arrangement on the equilateral triangles resulting in a positive vector chirality ground state configuration.