Field-induced quantum spin disordered state in spin-1/2 honeycomb magnet Na2Co2TeO6

Abstract Spin-orbit coupled honeycomb magnets with the Kitaev interaction have received a lot of attention due to their potential of hosting exotic quantum states including quantum spin liquids. Thus far, the most studied Kitaev systems are 4 d /5 d -based honeycomb magnets. Recent theoretical studies predicted that 3 d -based honeycomb magnets, including Na 2 Co 2 TeO 6 (NCTO), could also be a potential Kitaev system. Here, we have used a combination of heat capacity, magnetization, electron spin resonance measurements alongside inelastic neutron scattering (INS) to study NCTO’s quantum magnetism, and we have found a field-induced spin disordered state in an applied magnetic field range of 7.5 T < B (⊥ b -axis) < 10.5 T. The INS spectra were also simulated to tentatively extract the exchange interactions. As a 3 d -magnet with a field-induced disordered state on an effective spin-1/2 honeycomb lattice, NCTO expands the Kitaev model to 3 d compounds, promoting further interests on the spin-orbital effect in quantum magnets.