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 T
N = 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.