Probing Magnetic Frustration in 1D mixed Ho & Er Formate Metal-organic Framework

Magnetic materials only 1D interactions are of great interest due to the unique magnetic states they can host. Experimental realisations of 1D magnets are rare as there are few materials which feature strongly magnetically coupled chains that are well isolated from each other. We have recently shown that the Ln(formate)3 frameworks are good hosts for 1D magnetic states with intrachain magnetic interactions tuneable from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic depending on the lathanide incorporated. This experiment will probe the short range magnetic correlations in Ho0.5Er0.5(formate)3, where Ho and Er cations support ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic coupling, respectively. This will enable the first neutron scattering study of a random chain paramagnet, a state of significant theoretical interest but lacking of established examples suited to studies of their diffuse magnetic scattering.