Correlation-Driven Magnetic Frustration and Insulating Behavior of TiF3

The halide perovskite TiF₃, renowned for its intricate interplay between structure, electronic correlations, magnetism, and thermal expansion, is investigated. Despite its simple structure, understanding its low-temperature magnetic behavior has been a challenge. Previous theories propose antiferromagnetic ordering. In contrast, experimental signatures for an ordered magnetic state are absent down to 10 K. The current study has successfully reevaluated the theoretical modeling of TiF₃, unveiling the significance of strong electronic correlations as the key driver for its insulating behavior and magnetic frustration. In addition, frequency-dependent optical reflectivity measurements exhibit clear signs of an insulating state. The analysis of the calculated magnetic data gives an antiferromagnetic exchange coupling with a net Weiss temperature of order 25 K as well as a magnetic response consistent with a S = 1/2 local moment per Ti³⁺. Yet, the system shows no susceptibility peak at this temperature scale and appears free of long-range antiferromagnetic order down to 1 K. Extending ab initio modeling of the material to larger unit cells shows a tendency for relaxing into a noncollinear magnetic ordering, with a shallow energy landscape between several magnetic ground states, promoting the status of this simple, nearly cubic perovskite structured material as a candidate spin liquid.