Magnetic and structural transitions in (LixZn1-x)V2O4 with the spinel structure

The magnetic and structural properties of (LixZn1-x)V2O4 at low temperatures have been studied. The ground state of metallic LiV2O4 is not any magnetically ordered one although the magnetic susceptibility shows the Curie-Weiss behavior above 100K and a broad maximum around 20K. With substituting Zn for Li the spin-glass state appears as the ground state in 0.1 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.9. On the other hand the insulating ZnV2O4 exhibits the cubic to tetragonal transition at 50 K followed by the antiferromagnetic order below 40 K. ZnV2O4 shows a difference of magnetic susceptibility between zero-field and field cooled process below 95 K, which suggests the development of strong short-range correlation among spins. These transitions are sharply suppressed by the substitution of Li. The obtained results indicate that (LixZn1-x)V2O4 with the cubic spinel structure is a geometrically frustrated magnetic system.