Crystal field investigation on the magnetic properties of Yb3+ in Yb(CF3SO3)3·9H2O

Ytterbium tri-fluoromethanesulfonate (YbTFMS) single crystals are prepared from the slow evaporation of the aqueous solution of YbTFMS and the principal magnetic susceptibility perpendicular to the c-axis of the hexagonal crystal (χ⊥) is measured from 300 K down to 13 K. Principal magnetic anisotropy Δχ(=χ∥−χ⊥) is measured from 300 K down to 80 K which provides principal magnetic susceptibility parallel to the c-axis (χ∥) down to 80 K. Very good theoretical simulation of the observed magnetic properties of YbTFMS has been obtained using one electron crystal field (CF) analysis having C3h site symmetry. No signature of ordering effect in the observed magnetic data is noticed down to the lowest temperature (13 K) attained, indicating the inter-ionic interaction to be of predominantly dipolar type. The calculated g-values are found to be g∥=2.67 and g⊥=2.51, respectively. CF analysis provides the electronic specific heat which gives two Schottky anomalies in its thermal variation down to ∼13 K. The temperature dependences of quadrupole splitting and hyperfine heat capacity are studied from the necessary information obtained from the CF analysis.