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Abstract

CuSb2O6 crystallizes in a monoclinically distorted trirutile
structure. Although the crystal structure indicates a nearly
square planar Cu2+ lattice, the spin system is quasi-one-
dimensional (spin chains). In the paper crystal growth,
twinning and magnetic properties: of the compound are
considered. CuSb2O6 single crystals of size up to 125 mm 3 were
grown by chemical vapor transport with TeCl4 as a transport
agent. The crystals grew from gas phase in the tetragonal
modification and transformed to the monoclinic modification
upon cooling to room temperature. This results in twinning of
the crystals. Uniaxial pressure treatment up to 30 MPa failed
to detwin the crystals. The magnetic susceptibility of grown
crystals shows a broad anomaly at 60 K indicating the onset of
one-dimensional magnetic correlations. A sharp drop at T-N =
8.6(1) K marks a further transition to long-range
antiferromagnetic (AF) ordering. The susceptibility can be well
fitted to the linear uniform S = (1)/(2) Heisenberg AF model.
Heat capacity measurements also demonstrate the transition to
long-range magnetic order and the low dimensionality of
CuSb2O6. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.