Frustrated antiferromagnetic honeycomb-tunnel-like lattice CuR2Ge2O8 (R=Pr, Nd, Sm, and Eu)

Abstract

New frustrated antiferromagnetic compounds CuR2Ge2O8 (R=Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu) have been investigated using high-resolution x-ray diffraction, magnetic, and heat capacity measurements. These systems show different magnetic lattices depending on rare-earth element. The nonmagnetic Eu compound is a S=1/2 two-dimensional triangular antiferromagnetic lattice oriented in the ac plane with geometrical frustration. On the other hand, the Pr, Nd, and Sm compounds show a three-dimensional honeycomb-tunnel-like lattice made of R3+ running along the a axis with the characteristic behavior of frustrated antiferromagnets. © 2017 American Physical Society