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.