Spin glass like behavior in the novel layered material Na_2IrO_3

Understand

We have synthesized the novel material Na_2IrO_3 and studied its structure, transport, magnetic, and thermal properties using powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD), electrical resistivity, isothermal magnetization M versus magnetic field H, static \chi and dynamic \chi_ac magnetic susceptibility versus temperature T, and heat capacity C versus T measurements.

• Na_2IrO_3 crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/c (No.
• 15) structure which is made up of Na and NaIr_2O_6 layers alternately stacked along the c axis.
• From a Rietveld refinement of the PXRD pattern we identify atomic disorder arising from a mixing of Ir and Na sites within the NaIr_2O_6 layers.