Growth, structure and physical properties of gadolinium doped Sr2IrO4 single crystal

• Two GdxSr2 − xIrO4 and undoped Sr2IrO4 single crystals were grown by flux method.
• The conduction behavior is the 2D weak localization above 150 K.
• The 3D variable range hopping localization length changes around 88 K.
• The magnetization anomalies are observed at the transition temperatures.
• The correlation between electrical and magnetic properties in these crystals.

A series of Gd-doped Sr2IrO4 single crystals were grown using a flux method. Analysis of the temperature-dependent resistance of these crystals reveals that these samples show two-dimensional weak localization at 150 to 300 K, while three-dimensional variable range hopping (VRH) behavior is observed at temperatures lower than 150 K. Two localization lengths are observed in the VRH behavior, with a transition temperature of around 88 K. Correspondingly, temperature-dependent magnetization observations along the ab-plane reveal magnetic anomalies at both 150 and 85 K. This work demonstrates the correlation between the electrical and magnetic properties of 5d transition-metal compounds.