Interleaved bond frustration in a triangular lattice antiferromagnet.

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science
• Solid-State Chemistry

Background:

• Geometric frustration in lattice structures amplifies fluctuations, leading to unique ground states.
• While traditionally studied for magnetic properties, charge and bond order can also exhibit frustration.
• Coexistence of frustrated magnetic and bond networks is rare but promising for coupled phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify materials exhibiting both frustrated magnetism and frustrated bond order.
• To explore the potential for coupling between magnetic and structural properties in such materials.
• To characterize the coexistence of these frustrated phenomena in LnCd3P3.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of LnCd3P3 compounds.
• Investigation of crystal structure and electronic properties.
• Analysis of magnetic ordering and bond instability mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Identification of LnCd3P3 as a material with coexisting frustrated magnetism and bond order.
• Discovery of two-dimensional planes with trigonal planar CdP3 units and emergent kagome ice correlations.
• Observation of frustrated magnetic moments interleaved with a frustrated bond instability.

Conclusions:

• LnCd3P3 represents a rare materials class with embedded frustrated magnetism within a semiconductor.
• The material exhibits a frustrated bond order instability alongside frustrated magnetic moments.
• This coexistence offers potential for novel applications leveraging coupled magnetic and strain fields.