Magnetic and structural properties of the solid solution CuAl(2(1−x))Ga(2x)O(4)

CuAl(2)O(4) is a ternary oxide spinel with Cu(2+) ions ([Formula: see text] ) primarily populating the A-site diamond sublattice. The compound is reported to display evidence of spin glass behavior but possess a non-frozen magnetic ground state below the transition temperature. On the other hand, the spinel CuGa(2)O(4) displays spin glass behavior at ~ 2.5 K with Cu(2+) ions more readily tending to the B-site pyrochlore sublattice. Therefore, we investigate the magnetic and structural properties of the solid solution CuAl(2(1-x))Ga(2x)O(4) examining the evolution of the magnetic behavior as Al(3+) is replaced with a much larger Ga(3+) ion. Our results show that the Cu(2+) ions tend to migrate from tetrahedral to octahedral sites as the Ga(3+) ion concentration increases, resulting in a concomitant change in the glassy magnetic properties of the solution. Results indicate glassy behavior for much of the solution with a general trend towards decreasing magnetic frustration as the Cu(2+) ion shifts to the B-site. However, the [Formula: see text] and 0.2 members of the system do not show glassy behavior down to our measurement limit (1.9 K) suggesting a delayed spin glass transition. We suggest that these two members are additional candidates for investigation to access highly frustrated exotic quantum states.