The alkali-metal Cr(V) peroxychromates with the general formula M3CrO8 (M = Na, K,
Rb, and combinations thereof) and the 3d1 ground state have been characterized by X-ray
diffraction, variable frequency and variable temperature EPR, magnetic susceptibility, and
thermodynamic techniques. K3CrO8 and Rb3CrO8 are isomorphous, with space groups as
I4̄2m, whereas Na3CrO8 and K2NaCrO8 exhibit the orthorhombic space groups Cmc2 and
Pbcm, respectively. Lattice parameters are presented for all of these compounds and are
shown to depend sensitively on the cation. EPR measurements reveal that while the electronic
ground state of Na3CrO8, K3CrO8, and Rb3CrO8 is 3d
x
2
-
y
2
, that of the mixed salts, such as
K2NaCrO8 and Rb2NaCrO8, is 3d
z
2
; the origin of this switch is not yet clear. Specific heat
measurements showed that K3CrO8 undergoes an antiferromagnetic ordering transition at
T
N = 0.38 K and displays a broad peak around 0.8 K, which can be interpreted in terms of
a Bonner−Fisher model. Rb3CrO8 behaves similarly, with a broad peak at 0.52 K. Na3CrO8
exhibits a λ-like antiferromagnetic transition at 2.35 K, with K2NaCrO8 behaving similarly,
with T
N lower than 1.8 K. The exchange constants and the transition temperatures depend
sensitively on the cation. These compounds all are found to exhibit large specific heats
throughout the mK to 5 K temperature range, and the possibility exists of tuning the
thermodynamic properties via dilution with compatible diamagnetic lattices such as M3NbO8. Their specific heat data indicate that they could find applications as tunable heat
sinks and magnetic refrigerants in the mK to 5 K range.