Short-range Magnetic Ordering in the Geometrically Frustrated Layered Compound YBaCo4O7 with an Extended Kagom\'e Structure

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic and structural properties of YBaCo4O7, revealing short-range antiferromagnetic order and a chiral spin structure in a geometrically frustrated layered Kagomé system with magneto-structural coupling.

Contribution

It provides detailed insights into the magnetic ordering and spin structure of YBaCo4O7 with an extended Kagomé lattice, highlighting the presence of short-range order and magneto-structural effects.

Findings

Short-range antiferromagnetic order below 110 K

Presence of a chiral (d7d7) spin structure

Significant magneto-structural coupling observed

Abstract

Structural and magnetic properties of the geometrically frustrated layered compound YBaCo4O7 have been studied by magnetization and neutron diffraction. A layered type crystal structure, with alternating tetrahedral layers of Kagom\'e and triangular types, along the c axis (hexagonal symmetry, space group P63mc) has been found. The oxygen content of the present compound was determined by iodometric titration to be 7.00{\pm}0.01. Presence of a short-range antiferromagnetic ordering (below TN ~ 110 K) has been concluded from the appearance of an addition broad magnetic peak (at Q ~ 1.35 {\AA}-1) in the neutron diffraction pattern. A staggered chiral type (\sqrt{3}\mult \sqrt{3} ) spin structure in the Kagom\'e layers has been found. Presence of a significant magneto-structural coupling is concluded from the changes in lattice parameters across the magnetic ordering temperature TN ~ 110 K.