Quantum spin liquid (QSL) state in rare-earth triangular lattice has attracted much attention recently due to its potential application in quantum computing and communication. Here we report the single-crystal growth synthesis, crystal structure characterizations and magnetic properties of AYbSe2 (A= K, Rb) compounds. The X-ray diffraction analysis shows that AYbSe2 (A = K and Rb) crystallizes in a trigonal space group, R-3m (No. 166) with Z = 3. AYbSe2 possesses a two-dimensional (2D) Yb-Se-Yb layered structure formed by edged-shared YbSe6 octahedra. The magnetic properties are highly anisotropic for both title compounds and no long-range order is found down to 0.4 K, revealing the possible QSL ground state in these compounds. The isothermal magnetization exhibits one-third magnetization plateau when the magnetic fields are applied in ab-plane. Heat capacity is performed along both ab-plane and c-axis, and features the characteristic dome for triangular magnetic lattice compounds as a function of magnetic fields. Due to the change of the interlayer and intralayer distance of Yb3+, the dome shifts to low fields from KYbSe2 to RbYbSe2. All these results indicate the AYbSe2 family presents unique frustrated magnetism close to the possible QSL and noncolinear spin states.
@article{arxiv.2109.00384,
title = {Synthesis and Anisotropic Magnetism in Quantum Spin Liquid Candidates $A$YbSe$_2$ ($A$ = K and Rb)},
author = {Jie Xing and Liurukara D. Sanjeewa and Andrew F. May and Athena S. Sefat},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2109.00384},
year = {2021}
}