Traversing the pyrochlore stability diagram; microwave-assisted synthesis and discovery of mixed B-site Ln$_2$InSbO$_7$ family

Abstract

The lanthanide pyrochlore oxides Ln2B2O7 are one of the most intensely studied classes of materials within condensed matter physics, firmly centered as one of the pillars of frustrated magnetism. The extensive chemical diversity of the pyrochlores, coupled with their innate geometric frustration, enables realization of a wide array of exotic and complex magnetic ground states. Thus, the discovery of new pyrochlore compositions has been a persistent theme that continues to drive the field in exciting directions. The recent focus on the mixed B-site pyrochlores offers a unique route towards tuning both local coordination chemistry and sterics, while maintaining a nominally pristine magnetic sublattice. Here, we present a broad overview of the pyrochlore stability field, integrating recent synthetic efforts in mixed B-site systems with the historically established Ln2B2O7 families.In parallel, we present the discovery and synthesis of the entire Ln2InSbO7 family