Selective Synthesis and Crystal Chemistry of Candidate Rare-Earth Kitaev Materials: Honeycomb and Hyperhoneycomb NaPrO.

Rare-earth oxides have attracted interest as a platform for studying frustrated magnetism arising from bond-dependent anisotropic interactions. Ordered rock salt compounds NaPrO crystallize in two polymorphs (α and β) comprising honeycomb and hyperhoneycomb lattices of octahedrally coordinated Pr (4). Although possible realization of antiferromagnetic Kitaev interactions is anticipated for these phases on the basis of models, the air sensitivity of the two polymorphs has hampered reliable crystal growth and physical property measurements. Here, we have succeeded in preparing powder and single crystals of both α- and β-NaPrO using modified synthetic procedures. Revised crystal structures for both polymorphs are obtained from refinement of untwinned single-crystal X-ray diffraction data.