Structural and double magnetic transitions in the frustrated spin- 1 2 capped-kagome antiferromagnet ( RbCl ) Cu 5 P 2 O 10
The structural and magnetic properties of the geometrically frustrated spin- 1 2 capped-kagome antiferromagnet (RbCl) Cu 5 P 2 O 10 are investigated via temperature-dependent x-ray diffraction, magnetization, heat capacity, and 31 P NMR experiments on a polycrystalline sample. It undergoes a structural transition at around T t ≃ 310 K from a high-temperature trigonal (P ¯3m1) to a low-temperature monoclinic (C2/c) unit cell, where the low-temperature structure features the capped-kagome geometry of Cu 2+ ions. Interestingly, it shows the onset of two successive magnetic transitions at T N1 ≃ 20 K and T N2 ≃ 7 K. The shape of the 31 P NMR spectra unfolds the possible nature of the transitions below T N1 and T N2 to be of incommensurate and commensurate antiferromagnetic type, respectively. A large value of the Curie-Weiss temperature as compared to T N1 sets the frustration parameter f ≃ 8, ensuring strong magnetic frustration in the compound. From the 31 P NMR spin-lattice relaxation rate, the leading antiferromagnetic exchange coupling is estimated to be J/k B ≃ 117 K. Furthermore, these unusual double magnetic transitions make this compound beguiling for further investigations.