Nuclear and magnetic structures of the frustrated quantum antiferromagnet barlowite, Cu₄(OH)₆FBr

Tustain, K, Nilsen, GJ, Ritter, C, da Silva, I and Clark, L ORCID: 0000-0002-6223-3622 (2018) Nuclear and magnetic structures of the frustrated quantum antiferromagnet barlowite, Cu₄(OH)₆FBr. PHYSICAL REVIEW MATERIALS, 2 (11). 111405-.

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Abstract

Barlowite, Cu4(OH)6FBr, has attracted much attention as the parent compound of a new series of quantum spin-liquid candidates, ZnxCu4-x(OH)6FBr. While it is known to undergo a magnetic phase transition to a long-range ordered state at TN=15 K, there is still no consensus over either its nuclear or magnetic structures. Here, we use comprehensive, high-flux powder neutron diffraction studies on deuterated samples of barlowite to demonstrate that the only space group consistent with the observed nuclear and magnetic diffraction at low temperatures is the orthorhombic Pnma space group. We furthermore conclude that the magnetic intensity at T<TN is correctly described by the Pn′m′a magnetic space group, which crucially allows the ferromagnetic component observed in previous single-crystal and powder magnetization measurements. As such, the magnetic structure of barlowite resembles that of the related material clinoatacamite, Cu4(OH)6Cl2, the parent compound of the well-known quantum spin-liquid candidate hebertsmithite, ZnCu3(OH)6Cl2.

Item Type:	Article
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	28 Nov 2018 09:59
Last Modified:	17 Mar 2024 01:36
DOI:	10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.2.111405
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3029120