  The spin-1/2 Cu2+ ions in beta-Cu3V2O8 occupy the sites of a Kagome-staircase
lattice, an anisotropic variant of the Kagome net: buckled layers and imbedded
plaquettes of three edge-shared CuO4 squares break the ideal Kagome symmetry.
Susceptibility and heat capacity measurements show the onset of short-range
ordering at approximately 75 K, and a magnetic phase transition with the
characteristics of antiferromagnetism at ~29 K. Comparison to the Curie Weiss
theta (theta,CW = -135 K) indicates that the geometric frustration is largely
relieved by the anisotropy. A ferromagnetic contribution to the magnetization
below the ordering temperature and negative magnetization in zero-field cooled
measurements at low fields are attributed to uncompensated spins at grain
boundaries or defects.

Condensed Matter