Single-crystal growth and magnetic anisotropy in PrFe₂Ga₈

Abstract

Single crystals of PrFe2Ga8 were successfully grown by using Ga self-flux. PrFe2Ga8 crystallizes in the CaCo2Al8-type orthorhombic structure with the space group Pbam (No. 55). By combining the results from the magnetic-susceptibility, specific-heat, and resistivity measurements, we show that PrFe2Ga8 exhibits a magnetic order at 14 K. For H//c, the antiferromagnetic order can be suppressed by magnetic fields. However, the magnetic order is robust against magnetic fields for H⊥c. Our results provide basic physical properties of PrFe2Ga8 and will help to further understand the magnetism in this system.

Strong magnetic anisotropy in PrRu2Ga8 and PrCo2Al8 single crystals

“…Finally, we found that both PrRu 2 Ga 8 and PrCo 2 Al 8 have strong magnetic anisotropy. The ratio (M H||c /M H⊥c ) between maximum magnetizations measured at 2 K with H||c and H⊥c is 29 for PrRu 2 Ga 8 and 56 for PrCo 2 Al 8 , which are much higher than 9 for PrFe 2 Ga 8 [28]. PrCo 2 Al 8 displays a much-enhanced magnetic anisotropy.…”

“…While the distances between Pr-Pr in the ab-plane are about 6.5-6.6 Å, and the magnetic interactions are AFM in the ab-plane. iso-structural compounds PrFe 2 Ga 8 [28], PrFe 2 Al 8 [20], and PrCo 2 Ga 8 [26], which associates with the admixture of the ground state singlet and the first CEF level when they are close to each other [26]. In comparison with PrCo 2 Al 8 , a much smaller S mag = 0.96 J mol −1 K −1 up to magnetic order temperature (2.5 K) is observed in PrRu 2 Ga 8 .…”

“…However, Pr-based 128family compounds generally show magnetic orders [26,27]. Studies on these compounds indicate that the Pr 3+ ion has a pseudo-doublet ground state due to the ground singlet state and the first CEF level being so close and mixing each other [20,23,28]. PrFe 2 Ga 8 displays an antiferromagnetic (AFM) order around 14 K and anisotropic magnetic properties [28].…”

“…Studies on these compounds indicate that the Pr 3+ ion has a pseudo-doublet ground state due to the ground singlet state and the first CEF level being so close and mixing each other [20,23,28]. PrFe 2 Ga 8 displays an antiferromagnetic (AFM) order around 14 K and anisotropic magnetic properties [28]. Compared with PrFe 2 Ga 8 , PrRu 2 Ga 8 and PrCo 2 Al 8 have been reported to AFM order at much lower temperatures [27][28][29].…”

“…PrFe 2 Ga 8 displays an antiferromagnetic (AFM) order around 14 K and anisotropic magnetic properties [28]. Compared with PrFe 2 Ga 8 , PrRu 2 Ga 8 and PrCo 2 Al 8 have been reported to AFM order at much lower temperatures [27][28][29]. However, magnetic anisotropies for PrRu 2 Ga 8 and PrCo 2 Al 8 have not been studied.…”