Magnetic properties of LiCu$_3$O$_3$ -- quasi-two-dimensional antiferromagnet on depleted square lattice

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic properties of LiCu$_3$O$_3$, a quasi-2D antiferromagnet with depleted square lattice planes, revealing multiple magnetic transitions, complex spin structures, and high magnetic field rigidity.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed experimental analysis of magnetic ordering and spin structures in LiCu$_3$O$_3$, highlighting the effects of lattice depletion and magnetic anisotropy.

Findings

Magnetic order occurs at 123 K in planes with higher Cu$^{2+}$ concentration.

A second magnetic transition at around 30 K indicates ordering in less populated planes.

The magnetic structure exhibits a spin-flop transition and high saturation field (~200 T).

Abstract

LiCu$_3$O$_3$ is a novel 2D S=1/2 antiferromagnet with randomly depleted square lattice. The crystal structure contains two types of square planes with different Cu$^{2+}\rightarrow$ Li$^{+}$ substitution rates (20% and 40%). $^7$Li NMR and magnetization measurements performed on single crystals of LiCu$_3$O$_3$ revealed the occurrence of magnetic order at $T_{c1}=123$ K and the change of the magnetic state at $T_{c2}\approx30$ K. The high temperature transition can be attributed to establishment of magnetic order in planes with higher concentration of magnetic ions and the low temperature transition -- to the magnetic ordering in planes with lower concentration of magnetic ions. Broad continuous NMR spectra below $T_{c1}$ reflect a continuous distribution of values or directions of magnetic moments in LiCu$_3$O$_3$ typical for spiral, spin-modulated magnetic structures or structures with frozen disorder. Magnetization measurements revealed a spin-flop transition which indicates weak uniaxial anisotropy of the spin structure. Relatively small value of magnetic susceptibility at all orientations of applied magnetic field shows that magnetic structure is rigid, since the estimated value of saturation field derived from differential susceptibility measured at $\mu_0 H=5$ T is $\mu_0H_{sat} \approx$200 T.