We report the synthesis of single crystals of a novel layered iridate Ba$_{ 21}$Ir$_9$O$_{ 43}$, and present the crystallographic, transport and magnetic properties of this material. The compound has a hexagonal structure with two iridium oxide layers stacked along the $c$ direction. One layer consists of a triangular arrangement of Ir$_2$O$_9$ dimers while the other layer comprises two regular octahedra and one triangular pyramid, forming inter-penetrated triangular lattices. The resistivity as a function of temperature exhibits an insulating behavior, with a peculiar $T^{ -3}$ behavior. Magnetic susceptibility shows antiferromagnetic Curie-Weiss behavior with $\Theta_\mathrm{ CW} \simeq -$90 K while a magnetic transition occurs at substantially lower temperature of 9 K. We discuss possible valence states and effective magnetic moments on Ir ions in different local environments, and argue that the Ir ions in a unique triangular-pyramidal configuration likely carry unusually large magnetic moments.
Categories: cond-mat.str-el cond-mat.mtrl-sci