Anisotropic magnetic, transport and thermodynamic properties of novel tetragonal Ce2RhGa12 compound

•Ce2RhGa12 crystallizes in tetragonal structure having space-group P4/nbm.•Anisotropic magnetic, transport and thermodynamic properties are investigated.•The antiferromagnetic ordering temperature is 3.5 K.•Sommerfeld parameter γ ≈ 423 mJ/mol K2.

We report on a comprehensive study of the magnetization, resistivity and heat capacity on the single crystals of Ce2RhGa12 synthesized using Ga flux. Single crystal X-ray diffraction data confirm the tetragonal Pb/nbm structure of Ce2RhGa12, which is isostructural to Ce2PdGa12. Ce2RhGa12 orders antiferromagnetically at TN = 3.5 K and exhibits anisotropic magnetic behavior, inferred from the magnetization and resistivity data, taken along the two principal crystallographic directions of the crystal, viz., along [1 0 0] and [0 0 1]. The anisotropic magnetic response of Ce2RhGa12 establishes [0 0 1] as the easy axis of magnetization, and a weak meta-magnetic transition is also observed in the magnetic isotherm at 2 K along the same axis. A sharp peak in specific heat signals the bulk antiferromagnetic transition at TN = 3.5 K, which shifts to lower temperatures in low applied fields. The electrical resistivity along the two directions shows metallic behavior from 300 K down to 1.8 K and establishes Ce2RhGa12 as a normal, trivalent cerium compound.