Magnetic and electrical properties of flux grown single crystals of Ln6M4Al43 (Ln=Gd, Yb; M=Cr, Mo, W)

Millimeter-sized single crystals of Ln6M4Al43 (Ln=Gd, Yb; M=Cr, Mo, W) were successfully grown with a molten aluminum flux. Synthetic conditions and physical properties for single crystals of all six analogs are discussed. The compounds exhibit metallic resistivity with room temperature values between 0.1 and 0.6 mΩ-cm. The Yb analogs are Pauli paramagnets with the Yb ion adopting the nonmagnetic divalent configuration (Yb2+). Gd6Cr4Al43, Gd6Mo4Al43, and Gd6W4Al43 appear to order antiferromagnetically at 19, 15, and 15 K, respectively.

The crystal structure of Yb6Cr4Al43. The light and dark green polyhedra show the chromium sublattice.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Single crystals up to 0.5 cm in length were grown with a molten aluminum flux.
► Physical property measurements were conducted on single crystals.
► Gadolinium analogs appear to order antiferromagnetically with positive θ.
► All analogs show metallic resistivity.