Synthesis and magnetic properties of SmOOH crystals

• SmOOH crystals were synthesized via flux method and characterized.
• Magnetic susceptibilities above 200 K agreed with theoretical Van Vleck values.
• Discrepancies were observed at lower temperatures based on the crystalline field.

Samarium oxyhydroxide (SmOOH) crystals were synthesized using a flux method. The as-grown crystals were yellowish, transparent, and elongated with a maximum length of approximately 1.0 mm. SmOOH adopts a monoclinic structure in the space group P21/m with a=0.4356 nm, b=0.3766 nm, c=0.6139 nm, and β=108.464°. The magnetic susceptibility of the SmOOH crystals exhibited typical Van Vleck paramagnetism, and the experimental data at temperatures above 200 K were in close agreement with the calculated results using a spin-orbit coupling constant λ=443 K (308 cm−1).