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Ferromagnetic-like behavior emerging from local CoO6 honeycomb motifs in Co-doped NaSbO3 thin films

Hao-Bo Li1,2,*, Weitao Yan3, Shunsuke Kobayashi4, Kousuke Ooe4, Takahiro Ozawa5, Hidefumi Takahashi2,6, Shintaro Ishiwata2,6, Chengchao Zhong7, Tong Zhu8 et al.

Wei-Hua Wang3, Hiroshi Takatsu8, Hiroshi Kageyama8, and Hidekazu Tanaka1,2,†

  • 1SANKEN, The University of Osaka, Ibaraki 8-1, Osaka 567-0047, Japan
  • 2Spintronics Research Network Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, The University of Osaka, Yamadaoka 2-1, Suita, Osaka 565–0871, Japan
  • 3Department of Micro/Nano Electronics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Solar Energy, Engineering Research Center of Thin Film Optoelectronics Technology (Ministry of Education), Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
  • 4Nanostructures Research Laboratory, Japan Fine Ceramics Center, Nagoya 456–8587, Japan
  • 5Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153–8505, Japan
  • 6Division of Materials Physics and Center for Spintronics Research Network, Graduate School of Engineering Science, The University of Osaka, Osaka 560–8531, Japan
  • 7Department of Applied Chemistry, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1, Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525–8577, Japan
  • 8Department of Energy and Hydrocarbon Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering Kyoto University, Kyoto 615–8510, Japan

  • *Contact author: h.b.li.phys@sanken.osaka-u.ac.jp
  • †Contact author: h-tanaka@sanken.osaka-u.ac.jp
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Phys. Rev. Materials 10, 054418 – Published 22 May, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/54cx-6r5s

Abstract

The strongly correlated oxides with a honeycomb lattice have attracted vast attention due to their interesting magnetic behaviors and emergent quantum effects such as Majorana fermions generated from Kitaev spin liquid. High-quality single crystal samples with delicately controlled composition and strain are highly required in this area. In this work, honeycomb structure built by edge-sharing CoO6 octahedra is stabilized in ilmenite matrix by doping 4% Co into NaSbO3. By performing magnetic measurements and first principles calculations, it is suggested that honeycomb local motifs containing Co2+ (3d7) cobalt may exist in Co-doped NaSbO3 thin films, and exhibit ferromagnetic-like transition at ∼88 K. Meanwhile, the interlayer dipolar interaction may lead to antiferromagnetic coupling between the nearest layers. This work reveals the possibility to embed 3d7 honeycomb structure into an ilmenite matrix and provides a platform for future spin liquid exploration as well as quantum information technology.

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Phys. Rev. Materials 10, 054418– Published 22 May, 2026
  • Received 19 January 2026
  • Accepted 4 May 2026
Article part of CHORUS
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