  Kitaev magnets are materials with bond-dependent Ising interactions between
localized spins on a honeycomb lattice. Such interactions could lead to a
quantum spin-liquid (QSL) ground state at zero temperature. Recent theoretical
studies suggest two potential signatures of a QSL at finite temperatures,
namely a scaling behavior of thermodynamic quantities in the presence of
quenched disorder, and a two-step release of the magnetic entropy. Here, we
present both signatures in Ag$_{3}$LiIr$_{2}$O$_{6}$ which is synthesized from
$\alpha$-Li$_{2}$IrO$_{3}$ by replacing the inter-layer Li atoms with Ag atoms.
In addition, the DC susceptibility data confirm absence of a long-range order,
and the AC susceptibility data rule out a spin-glass transition. These
observations suggest a closer proximity to the QSL in Ag$_{3}$LiIr$_{2}$O$_{6}$
compared to its parent compound $\alpha$-Li$_{2}$IrO$_{3}$ that orders at 15 K.
We discuss an enhanced spin-orbit coupling due to a mixing between silver d and
oxygen p orbitals as a potential underlying mechanism.

Materials Science;Strongly Correlated Electrons