Abstract
We investigate the crystal structure, magnetic properties, and crystalline electric field of tetragonal, I41/amd, NaCeO2. In this compound, Ce3+ ions form a tetragonally elongated diamond lattice coupled by antiferromagnetic interactions (ΘCW=−7.69 K) that magnetically order below TN=3.18 K. The Ce3+J=5/2 crystalline electric field-split multiplet is studied via inelastic neutron scattering to parametrize a Jeff=1/2 ground state doublet composed of states possessing mixed |mz⟩ character. Neutron powder diffraction data reveal the onset of A-type antiferromagnetism with μ=0.57(2)μB moments aligned along the c axis. The magnetic structure is consistent with the expectations of a frustrated Heisenberg J1−J2 model on the elongated diamond lattice with effective exchange values J1>4J2 and J1>0.
