Structural and magnetic properties of the Kagomé antiferromagnet YbBaCo4O7

The mixed-valent compound YbBaCo4O7 is built up of Kagomé sheets of CoO4 tetrahedra, linked in the third dimension by a triangular layer of CoO4 tetrahedra in an analogous fashion to that found in the known geometrically frustrated magnets such as pyrochlores and SrCr9xGa12−9xO19 (SCGO). We have undertaken a study of the structural and magnetic properties of this compound using combined high-resolution powder neutron and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. YbBaCo4O7 undergoes a first-order trigonal→orthorhombic phase transition at 175 K. We show that this transition occurs as a response to a markedly underbonded Ba2+ site in the high-temperature phase and does not appear to involve charge ordering of Co2+/Co3+ ions in the tetrahedra. The symmetry lowering relieves the geometric frustration of the structure, and a long-range-ordered 3-D antiferromagnetic state develops below 80 K.

Graphical AbstractCrystal structure of YbBaCo4O7 at 225 K showing tetrahedral coordination polyhedra surrounding both Co2+ and Co3+ ions and highlighting the Kagomé layers. At this temperature, the structure is trigonal and geometrically frustrated.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide