Magnetic phase diagram and possible Kitaev-like behavior of honeycomb-lattice antimonate Na3Co2SbO6

Abstract

Recent theoretical studies have suggested that Kitaev physics and such effects as formation of a mysterious spin-liquid state can be expected not only in RuCl3 and iridates, but also in conventional $3d$ transition metal compounds. Using DC and AC magnetometry, thermodynamic and $^{23}$Na nuclear magnetic resonance measurements (NMR) we studied such a candidate material Na3Co2SbO6 . A full phase diagram of Na3Co2SbO6 in a wide range of magnetic fields and temperatures is presented. The results demonstrate transformation of the magnetic structure realized at low-temperature and suppression of the AFM order under the external field, the gradual development of the saturation phase, as well as evidence of gapped spin-liquid-like behavior in certain parts of the phase diagram