Pyrochlore NaYbO2: A Potential Quantum Spin Liquid Candidate

Abstract

The search for quantum spin liquids (QSL) and chemical doping in such materials to explore superconductivity have continuously attracted intense interest. Here, we report the discovery of a potential QSL candidate, pyrochlore-lattice β-NaYbO₂. Colorless and transparent NaYbO₂ single crystals, layered α-NaYbO₂ (∼250 μm on edge) and octahedral β-NaYbO₂ (∼50 μm on edge), were grown for the first time. Synchrotron X-ray single-crystal diffraction unambiguously determined that the newfound β-NaYbO₂ belongs to the three-dimensional pyrochlore structure characterized by the R3̅m space group, corroborated by synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffraction and pair distribution function. Magnetic measurements revealed no long-range magnetic order or spin glass behavior down to 0.4 K with a low boundary spin frustration factor of 17.5, suggesting a potential QSL ground state. Under high magnetic fields, the potential QSL state was broken and spins order. Our findings reveal that NaYbO₂ is a fertile playground for studying novel quantum states.