Magnetic behavior and structural feature of quasi-one-dimensional BaCu2V2O8 crystal

Abstract Magnetic properties of BaCu2V2O8 single crystals obtained by the spontaneous nucleation method using V2O5 as a self-flux are investigated. Singlet ground states with spin gaps of 215 and 223 K are observed along the directions parallel and perpendicular to the c-axis of the crystal, respectively, being in good agreement with powder sample measurements. Reinvestigation of the crystal structure reveals that the whole structural framework of BaCu2V2O8 crystal can be described as an assembly of alternating chains, which are built by edge-sharing pairs of CuO4 square-plaquettes and VO4 tetrahedra along the c-axis. The magnetic nature of BaCu2V2O8 is well understood based on this structural interpretation.