By means of density functional theory calculations with
the inclusion
of spin–orbit coupling, we present a comprehensive investigation
of the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of the novel
series of ilmenite-type honeycomb lattice iridates MIrO3 (M = Cd, Zn, and Mg), the potential candidates for realizing the
quantum spin liquid. Our findings are as follows: (i) the structural
relaxations could not properly capture the abnormal thin two-dimensional
honeycomb IrO6 layers in CdIrO3, making the
experimentally proposed crystal structure questionable. Furthermore,
the calculations within the experimental structure could not correctly
determine the magnetic ground state; however, the results within the
optimized one rectify this scenario and provide a precise and reasonable
description of its electronic and magnetic properties, which is in
good agreement with the experimental observations and that of Zn and
Mg analogues. In this regard, we hope that our report will inspire
additional studies on this issue and eventually resolve the crystal
structure of CdIrO3. (ii) We identified that the magnetic
ground state of this series of iridates MIrO3 is the zigzag
antiferromagnetic ordering, where ferromagnetic zigzag chains are
coupling antiferromagnetically across the bridging bonds within a
hexagon. (iii) Though it is widely assumed that all the iridates can
be well described based on the spin–orbit-assisted J
eff = 1/2 Mott insulating state model, detailed
analysis of electronic band structures indicates that the formation
of quasimolecular orbitals (QMOs) within a hexagon plays a non-negligible
role in appropriately depicting the electronic and magnetic properties.
Finally, (iv) we found that all the antiferromagnetic patterns are
insulating with finite band gaps. Clarifying the effect of magnetic
ordering on the electronic structures is important because it reminds
us of potential erroneous identification/prediction of the ground
state. The results suggest that precisely determining the magnetic
ground state and adopting it in the simulations are imperative for
faithfully rendering the electronic properties of a compound. Our
results underline the importance of structural factor, spin–orbit
coupling, correlation correction, the formation of the QMOs within
the hexagon, as well as magnetic ordering in elucidating the electronic
structure of a series of ilmenite-type honeycomb lattice iridates
MIrO3.