Magnetosynthesis of Cu²⁺ based antiferromagnets and quantum spin liquids

Magnetic field is a highly underexplored synthetic variable, and most work exploring its effect has been performed on 5d transition metal-containing compounds. We performed the first systematic exploration of magnetosynthesis in 3d compounds, focusing on materials containing S=1/2 Cu²⁺ in a variety of lattices. We studied a series of materials that are synthesized either by hydrothermal or room-temperature evaporative methods and exhibit a range of low-temperature magnetic properties from quantum spin liquid (herbertsmithite Cu₃Zn(OH)₆Cl₂) to a simple low-temperature antiferromagnet (CuCl₂·2(H₂O)) to complex low-temperature antiferromagnets exhibiting spin canting and/or spin-glass behavior, (Cu₃Cl₄(OH)₂·2(H₂O) and atacamite (Cu₂(OH)₃Cl). In this talk, we will discuss the effect of the application of a small magnetic field upon the crystal structure and magnetic properties of this series of compounds.