Magnetic order of Nd 5 Pb 3 single crystals

We report millimeter-sized Nd Pb single crystals grown out of a Nd-Co flux. We experimentally study the magnetic order of Nd Pb single crystals by measuring the anisotropic magnetic properties, electrical resistivity under high pressure up to 8 GPa, specific heat, and neutron single crystal diffract...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of physics. Condensed matter 2018-04, Vol.30 (13), p.135801
Main Authors: Yan, J-Q, Ochi, M, Cao, H B, Saparov, B, Cheng, J-G, Uwatoko, Y, Arita, R, Sales, B C, Mandrus, D G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
MATERIALS SCIENCE
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Summary:We report millimeter-sized Nd Pb single crystals grown out of a Nd-Co flux. We experimentally study the magnetic order of Nd Pb single crystals by measuring the anisotropic magnetic properties, electrical resistivity under high pressure up to 8 GPa, specific heat, and neutron single crystal diffraction. Two successive magnetic orders are observed at T   =  44 K and T   =  8 K. The magnetic cells can be described with a propagation vector [Formula: see text]. Cooling below T , Nd1 and Nd3 order forming ferromagnetic stripes along the b-axis, and the ferromagnetic stripes are coupled antiferromagnetically along the a-axis for the [Formula: see text] magnetic domain. Cooling below T , Nd2 orders antiferromagnetically to nearby Nd3 ions. All ordered moments align along the crystallographic c-axis. The magnetic order at T is accompanied by a quick drop of electrical resistivity upon cooling and a lambda-type anomaly in the temperature dependence of specific heat. At T , no anomaly was observed in electrical resistivity but there is a weak feature in specific heat. The resistivity measurements under hydrostatic pressures up to 8 GPa suggest a possible phase transition around 6 GPa. Our first-principles band structure calculations show that Nd Pb has the same electronic structure as does Y Si which has been reported to be a one-dimensional electride with anionic electrons that do not belong to any atom. Our study suggests that R Pb (R  =  rare earth) can be a materials playground for the study of magnetic electrides. This deserves further study after experimental confirmation of the presence of anionic electrons.
ISSN:0953-8984
1361-648X
DOI:10.1088/1361-648X/aaaf3e