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

TL;DR

This paper investigates the structure and magnetic behavior of Ho$_3$ScO$_6$, a frustrated Maple Leaf lattice antiferromagnet, revealing its crystal structure, magnetic ordering, and spin configuration at low temperatures.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of Ho$_3$ScO$_6$'s crystal structure and magnetic properties, highlighting its unique Maple Leaf lattice and 120° spin order.

Findings

Long-range magnetic order below 4.1 K

120° spin arrangement on Ho hexagons

Positive vector chirality ground state

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.