Impact of inversion symmetry on a quasi-1D S=1 system

Here, we report the synthesis and magnetic properties of a novel, centrosymmetric, quasi-1D spin chain system La3VWS3O6, with hexagonal crystal structure (P6(3)/m, a = 9.460 76(3), c = 5.518 09(2) angstrom). Pure powders were obtained by solid-state reactions from La2O3, WO3 and metal powders of V and W. X-ray powder diffraction, specific heat, magnetization, La-139-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and electric resistivity measurements indicate that the compound is a low dimensional magnet with an S = 1 spin chain that exhibits no sign of magnetic ordering above 2 K. A single ion anisotropy (D/k(B) similar to 10 K), caused by magneto-crystalline effects, is probably responsible for a thermodynamic entropy release at lower temperatures, which concurs with La-139-NMR data. By detailed comparison with non-centrosymmetric Ba3V2S4O3, having a very similar magnetic lattice, it is obvious that the presence of crystallographic inversion symmetry has an effect on the behaviour of the magnetic chains.