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Pressure-tuned spin chains in brochantite, Cu4SO4(OH)6

Victoria A. Ginga1,*, Bin Shen2, Ece Uykur3, Nico Giordano4, Philipp Gegenwart2, and Alexander A. Tsirlin1,†

  • *Contact author: victoria.ginga@uni-leipzig.de
  • †Contact author: altsirlin@gmail.com
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Phys. Rev. Materials 9, 094412 – Published 24 September, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/g459-sxb7

Abstract

Using high-pressure single-crystal x-ray diffraction combined with thermodynamic measurements and density-functional calculations, we uncover the microscopic magnetic model of the mineral brochantite, Cu4SO4(OH)6, and its evolution upon compression. The formation of antiferromagnetic spin chains with the effective intrachain coupling of J≃100K is attributed to the occurrence of longer Cu–Cu distances and larger Cu–O–Cu bond angles between the structural chains within the layers of the brochantite structure. These zigzag spin chains are additionally stabilized by ferromagnetic couplings J2 between second neighbors and moderately frustrated by several antiferromagnetic couplings that manifest themselves in the reduced Néel temperature of the material. Pressure tuning of the brochantite structure keeps its monoclinic symmetry unchanged and leads to the growth of antiferromagnetic J with the rate of 3.2 K/GPa, although this trend is primarily caused by the enhanced ferromagnetic couplings J2. Our results show that the nature of magnetic couplings in brochantite and in other layered Cu2+ minerals is controlled by the size of the lattice translation along their structural chains and by the extent of the layer buckling.

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Phys. Rev. Materials 9, 094412– Published 24 September, 2025
  • Received 16 April 2025
  • Accepted 27 August 2025
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