The Kagome-staircase lattice: Magnetic ordering in Ni3V2O8 and Co3V2O8

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic ordering in Ni3V2O8 and Co3V2O8, revealing ferrimagnetic behavior and multiple low-temperature phase transitions, highlighting the effects of anisotropic Kagome-staircase lattice structures.

Contribution

It introduces the magnetic properties and phase transitions of Ni3V2O8 and Co3V2O8 with a novel anisotropic Kagome staircase lattice, expanding understanding of frustrated magnetic systems.

Findings

Ni3V2O8 exhibits four magnetic phase transitions below 9 K.

Co3V2O8 shows two magnetic phase transitions below 11 K.

Magnetic entropy estimates suggest possible transitions below 2 K for Co3V2O8.

Abstract

Ni3V2O8 and Co3V2O8 have spin-1 and spin-3/2 magnetic lattices that are a new anisotropic variant of the Kagome net, wherein edge-sharing MO6 octahedra form the rises and rungs of a "Kagome staircase". The anisotropy largely relieves the geometric frustration, but results in rich magnetic behavior. Characterization of the magnetization of polycrystalline samples reveals that the compounds are ferrimagnetic in character. Heat capacity measurements show the presence of four magnetic phase transitions below 9 K for Ni3V2O8 and two below 11 K for Co3V2O8. Comparison to the low temperature heat capacity of isostructural nonmagnetic Zn3V2O8 provides an estimate of the magnetic entropy involved with the phase transitions. The results suggest that Co3V2O8 may display magnetic transitions below 2 K.