Magnetosynthesis effect on the structure and ground state of Cu$^{2+}$-based antiferromagnets

Micaela E. Primer; Anna A. Berseneva; Ayesha Ulde; Wenhao Sun; Rebecca W. Smaha

doi:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.5c05555

paper

Magnetosynthesis effect on the structure and ground state of Cu $^{2 +}$ -based antiferromagnets

arXiv:2512.00253 · doi:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.5c05555

Abstract

Subtle synthetic variables can have an outsizes influence on the crystal structure and magnetic properties of a material, particularly those of quantum materials. In this work, we investigate the impact of synthesis under a magnetic field (magnetosynthesis) on the crystal structure and magnetic properties of several Cu $^{2 +}$ ( $S = 1/2$ ) based materials with antiferromagnetic interactions and varying levels of magnetic frustration, from simple antiferromagnets to a quantum spin liquid. We employ small (0.09 - 0.37 T) magnetic fields applied during low-temperature hydrothermal or evaporative synthesis of the simple antiferromagnet CuCl $_{2} \cdot$ 2H $_{2}$ O, the canted antiferromagnet (Cu,Zn) $_{3}$ Cl $_{4}$ (OH) $_{2} \cdot$ 2H $_{2}$ O, the frustrated and canted antiferromagnet atacamite Cu $_{2}$ (OH) $_{3}$ Cl, and the highly frustrated quantum spin liquid herbertsmithite Cu $_{3}$ Zn(OH) $_{6}$ Cl $_{2}$ . We found that (Cu,Zn) $_{3}$ Cl $_{4}$ (OH) $_{2} \cdot$ 2H $_{2}$ O experiences structural changes well above its magnetic transition. Atacamite Cu $_{2}$ (OH) $_{3}$ Cl synthesized under a 0.19 T field experiences a 0.15 K (~3%) decrease in its Néel transition temperature and a significant strengthening of its antiferromagnetic interactions, suggesting that magnetosynthesis can influence the ground state of moderately frustrated materials.

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Magnetosynthesis effect on the structure and ground state of Cu2+-based antiferromagnets

Abstract

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Magnetosynthesis effect on the structure and ground state of Cu $^{2 +}$ -based antiferromagnets