: A hexagonal perovskite with isolated magnetic clusters on a geometrically frustrated network
Phys. Rev. Materials 10, 054416 – Published 21 May, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/sl5f-fx9c
Abstract
crystallizes with a structure that consists of clusters of three face-sharing Ru-centered octahedra connected via Sb-centered octahedra. Rietveld refinements of both x-ray and neutron powder diffraction data confirm the absence of Sb/Ru antisite mixing. Variable temperature neutron diffraction measurements reveal a phase transition on cooling below 100 K from the aristotype structure with symmetry to a monoclinic structure with symmetry. The phase transition is driven by displacements of cations and, as such, only subtly perturbs the geometry of the clusters. The Ru orbitals overlap to form delocalized molecular orbitals that span the trioctahedral cluster. At high temperature (T ≥ 200 K), the cluster adopts an intermediate spin state, but upon cooling to low temperature, susceptibility data suggest a gradual transition to an low spin state. The presence of ions with a [Kr] electron configuration minimizes interlayer superexchange interactions between clusters, thereby maintaining the frustration of the 2D triangular network. shows no signs of magnetic ordering down to 0.3 K, yet Curie-Weiss fitting of high-temperature susceptibility suggests strong antiferromagnetic interactions . The low-temperature specific heat evolves linearly with temperature, suggestive of a gapless quantum spin liquid. The combination of small magnetic quantum number, minimal chemical disorder, geometric frustration, and lack of long-range magnetic order makes an intriguing quantum spin liquid candidate that merits further study.