Structural and magnetic studies of the frustrated S  = 1 kagome magnet NH 4 Ni 2 Mo 2 O 10 H 3 .

The strong geometric frustration of the kagome antiferromagnets (KAFMs) can destabilise conventional magnetic order and lead to exotic electronic states, such as the quantum spin-liquid state observed in someS=12KAFM materials. However, the ground state of S  = 1 KAFM systems are less well understood. Spin nematic phases and valence bond solid ground states have been predicted to form but a paucity of experimental realisations restricts understanding. Here, the S  = 1 KAFM NH ₄ Ni ₂ Mo ₂ O ₁₀ H ₃ is presented, which has the 3-fold symmetry of the kagome lattice but significant site depletion, with∼64%site occupancy. Frustration and a competition between exchange interactions are evidenced through the suppression of order below the Weiss temperature|θW|and observation of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic characteristics in the magnetisation data. A semi spin glass ground state is predicted based on the ac-field frequency dependence of the magnetic transition and ferromagnetic signal.
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