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arXiv · 2501.15350

Pyrochlore NaYbO2: A potential Quantum Spin Liquid Candidate

Chuanyan Fan·Tieyan Chang·Longlong Fan·Simon J. Teat·Feiyu Li·Xiaoran Feng·Chao Liu·Shi-lei Wang·Huifen Ren·Jiazheng Hao·Zhaohui Dong·Lunhua He·Shanpeng Wang·Chengwang Niu·Yu-Sheng Chen·Xutang Tao·Junjie Zhang
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Abstract

The search for quantum spin liquids (QSL) and chemical doping in such materials to explore superconductivity have continuously attracted intense interest. Here, we report the discovery of a potential QSL candidate, pyrochlore-lattice beta-NaYbO2. Colorless and transparent NaYbO2 single crystals, layered alpha-NaYbO2 (~250 um on edge) and octahedral beta-NaYbO2 (~50 um on edge), were grown for the first time. Synchrotron X-ray single crystal diffraction unambiguously determined that the newfound beta-NaYbO2 belongs to the three-dimensional pyrochlore structure characterized by the R-3m space group, corroborated by synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffraction and pair distribution function. Magnetic measurements revealed no long-range magnetic order or spin glass behavior down to 0.4 K with a low boundary spin frustration factor of 17.5, suggesting a potential QSL ground state. Under high magnetic fields, the potential QSL state was broken and spins order. Our findings reveal that NaYbO2 is a fertile playground for studying novel quantum states.

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Chuanyan Fan, Tieyan Chang, Longlong Fan, Simon J. Teat, Feiyu Li, Xiaoran Feng, Chao Liu, Shi-lei Wang, Huifen Ren, Jiazheng Hao, Zhaohui Dong, Lunhua He, Shanpeng Wang, Chengwang Niu, Yu-Sheng Chen, Xutang Tao, Junjie Zhang. 2025-01-25. Pyrochlore NaYbO2: A potential Quantum Spin Liquid Candidate. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c13166

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