31P NMR study of Na2CuP2O7: a S=1/2 two-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnetic system

TL;DR

This study uses 31P NMR, susceptibility, and heat capacity measurements to investigate the magnetic properties of Na2CuP2O7, revealing it as a S=1/2 2D square lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet with a transition indicated by NMR spectrum broadening.

Contribution

First detailed NMR and thermodynamic analysis confirming Na2CuP2O7 as a S=1/2 2D square lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet with specific exchange parameters.

Findings

NMR shift fits the S=1/2 2D HAF model with J/k_B ≈ 18 K.

NMR spectrum broadens below 10 K indicating a transition.

Heat capacity shows a maximum around 10 K, no bulk susceptibility anomaly.

Abstract

The magnetic properties of Na2CuP2O7 were investigated by means of 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), magnetic susceptibility, and heat capacity measurements. We report the 31P NMR shift, the spin-lattice 1/T1, and spin-spin 1/T2 relaxation-rate data as a function of temperature T. The temperature dependence of the NMR shift K(T) is well described by the S=1/2 square lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnetic (HAF) model with an intraplanar exchange of J/k_B \simeq 18\pm2 K and a hyperfine coupling A = (3533\pm185) Oe/mu_B. The 31P NMR spectrum was found to broaden abruptly below T \sim 10 K signifying some kind of transition. However, no anomaly was noticed in the bulk susceptibility data down to 1.8 K. The heat capacity appears to have a weak maximum around 10 K. With decrease in temperatures, the spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T1 decreases monotonically and appears to agree well with the high temperature series expansion expression for a S = 1/2 2D square lattice.