Spin-Gap Behavior of Na₃Cu₂SbO₆ with Distorted Honeycomb Structure

Abstract

The spin-gap behavior observed in the temperature dependences of the magnetic susceptibility χ and the specific heat C of Na 3 Cu 2 SbO 6 with a (distorted) honeycomb structure is analyzed in detail. The behavior is commonly observed in similar systems A 3 Cu 2 SbO 6 and Na 2 Cu 2 TeO 6 (A=Na, Li), and can be understood by considering both the significant Jahn–Teller distortion in the compounds and the characteristics of the shape of the electron orbits, in which spins exist. The behavior is contrasted with the antiferromagnetic transition in systems of Na 3 T 2 SbO 6 and Na 2 T 2 TeO 6 (T=Co, Ni). We point out that the antiferromagnetic–ferromagnetic alternating chain model successfully describes the observed magnetic behavior of Na 3 Cu 2 SbO 6 .