Magnetism of Ir5+-based double perovskites: Unraveling its nature and the influence of structure

Iridates having pentavalent Ir${}^{5+}$ ions have emerged in the last years as an exciting playground to tune the atomic magnetic ground state from nonmagnetic $J=$0 to magnetic $J\ensuremath{\ne}$0 by either distortions of the IrO${}_{6}$ octahedra or increased orbital overlap. Here, the authors analyze the origin of the magnetic response observed in Sr${}_{2}$YIrO${}_{6}$ and reveal that in this case neither volume contraction nor structural distortions are sufficient to cause any change in the magnetic state of the Ir${}^{5+}$ ions.