Single Crystal Growth, Transport, and Electronic Band Structure of YCoGa$_5$

TL;DR

This study reports the growth, structural analysis, and electronic properties of YCoGa5 single crystals, revealing their band structure and lack of superconductivity down to 1.75 K, with implications for related heavy fermion systems.

Contribution

First detailed report on YCoGa5 single crystal growth, structure, and electronic band structure analysis, expanding understanding of this material class.

Findings

YCoGa5 has HoCoGa5-type structure with specific lattice parameters.

No superconductivity observed down to 1.75 K.

Band structure mainly involves Co-3d and Ga-4p electrons.

Abstract

Single crystal of YCoGa5 has been grown via Ga self-flux. In this paper, we report the single crystal growth, crystallographic parameters, resistivity, heat capacity, and band structure results of YCoGa5. YCoGa5 accommodates the HoCoGa5 type structure (space group P4/mmm (No. 123), Z = 1, a = 4.2131(6) A, c = 6.7929(13) A, which is isostructural to the extensively studied heavy fermion superconductor system CeMIn5 (M = Co, Rh, Ir) and the unconventional superconductor PuCoGa5 with Tc = 18.5 K. No superconductivity is observed down to 1.75 K. Band structure calculation results show that its band at the Fermi level is mainly composed of Co-3d and Ga-4p electrons states, which explains its similarity of physical properties to YbCoGa5 and LuCoGa5.