Absence of long-range magnetic ordering in the S=1/2 frustrated system Ca₃Cu₂GeV₂O₁₂

Quantum spin liquids can be found in materials with a combination of geometric frustration along with low spin. Due to its spin of S=1/2, the copper (II) ion is often present in the discussion of new spin liquid candidates. The solid state compound Ca₃Cu₂GeV₂O₁₂ is a material that crystallizes in the garnet structure (space group #230, Ia-3d), where 3-dimensional frustration from competing exchange interactions is known to occur. Heat capacity measurements have shown a lack of sharp ordering transitions in this compound down to 0.35 K, which is confirmed with a lack of long-range magnetic order via neutron diffraction measurements to 0.07 K. This system displays a Weiss temperature of -0.93(1) K indicating net antiferromagnetic interactions and significant J₁-J₂ competition causing frustration. Using both neutron and X-ray diffraction along with heat capacity and magnetometry, the work presented here shows that Ca₃Cu₂GeV₂O₁₂ has potential as a new spin liquid candidate.