Short-Range and Long-Range Order in AFM – FM Exchange Coupled Compound LiCu2(VO4)(OH)2

The presence of both strong interchain and intrachain interactions of an antiferromagnetic as well as an ferromagnetic nature may lead to the appearance of a gap in the magnetic excitation spectrum of LiCu2(VO4)(OH)2 as evidenced by the hump in magnetic susceptibility χ at T* ≈ 30 K. The temperature range of short-range magnetic order is terminated by the onset of long-range magnetic order at TN = 10 K, which is triggered by substantial interchain exchange interactions. This observation is corroborated by the specific heat, Cp, singularity, electron spin resonance, and nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. The latter reveals a broad distribution of the resonance fields ascribed to the formation of a helix magnetic structure. First-principles calculations allow estimations of both intrachain and interchain exchange interaction parameters, suggesting the implementation of a strongly coupled scenario with competing inter- and intrachain interactions.