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Crystal growth and magnetic properties of spin-1/2 distorted triangular lattice antiferromagnet CuLa2Ge2O8

S. Thamban1,2,*, C. Aguilar-Maldonado2, S. Chillal2, R. Feyerherm2, K. Prokeš2, A. J. Studer3, D. Abou-Ras2, K. Karmakar2, A. T. M. N. Islam2 et al.

B. Lake1,2,†

  • *Contact author: sreejith.thamban@helmholtz-berlin.de
  • †Contact author: bella.lake@helmholtz-berlin.de
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Phys. Rev. Materials 10, 054403 – Published 7 May, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/8zkd-78q3

Abstract

CuLa2Ge2O8 forms a distorted triangular lattice of quantum spin-1/2 Cu2+ ions. A crystal growth method was developed using the traveling-solvent floating zone technique, resulting in the synthesis of a large single crystal (4mm×4mm×10 mm). The crystal was characterized with regard to phase purity and crystallinity using powder x-ray diffraction, energy dispersive x-ray analysis, and Laue diffraction, and found to be of excellent quality. The magnetic properties were characterized using dc-susceptibility, magnetization, and heat capacity measurements, which revealed weak magnetic frustration with long-range magnetic order occurring below TN=1.14(1) K. The magnetic structure determined using neutron powder diffraction is a commensurate, noncollinear antiferromagnetic structure, different from the 120∘ order of an equilateral triangular antiferromagnet. The ordered moments lie in the bc-plane, with components mb=0.50(3) µB and mc=0.73(5) µB along the b- and c-axes respectively, giving a total ordered moment of Mtotal=0.89(6)µB/Cu2+ at 20 mK.

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Phys. Rev. Materials 10, 054403– Published 7 May, 2026
  • Received 10 October 2025
  • Accepted 16 April 2026
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