: A zemannite-type dimer antiferromagnet
Phys. Rev. Materials 10, 094410 – Published 22 September, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/gy4h-1zp5
Abstract
In recent years, magnetically frustrated triangular and honeycomb lattice cobaltates have seen extensive study in the pursuit of a quantum spin liquid (QSL) state in a real material. In this work, we describe the hydroflux synthesis of (KCoTOH), a novel zemannite-type antiferromagnet (AFM) possessing elements of both triangular dimer and honeycomb structural motifs. Bulk magnetometry and specific heat data support the onset of long-range AFM order below K, with neutron diffraction and muon spin relaxation () measurements placing the majority of the ordered moment within the plane. We resolve three unique oscillation frequencies from the zero-field spectra, additionally suggesting a remarkably low level of structural disorder in as-grown KCoTOH crystals. Whereas interactions between dimerized chains of cations are typically observed to be negligible or ferromagnetic in nature, the largely planar, effective honeycomb ordering motif observed in KCoTOH is instead stabilized by net antiferromagnetic interactions through bridging tellurite groups. This work highlights the potential of hydroflux synthesis methods in the stabilization of magnetic materials possessing novel frustrated lattice geometries.