Structural and magnetic properties of CeZnAl$_3$ single crystals

TL;DR

This study reports the synthesis and characterization of CeZnAl$_3$, a new Ce-based intermetallic with unique magnetic properties, including ferromagnetic components and pressure-dependent magnetic ordering, expanding understanding of Ce$TX_3$ compounds.

Contribution

The paper introduces CeZnAl$_3$ as a new member of Ce$TX_3$ family with distinct magnetic behavior and structural features, providing new insights into Ce-based intermetallics.

Findings

CeZnAl$_3$ orders magnetically below 4.4 K.

Presence of ferromagnetic component indicated by hysteresis.

Magnetic ordering temperature decreases under pressure.

Abstract

We have synthesized single crystals of CeZnAl$_3$, which is a new member of the family of the Ce-based intermetallics Ce$TX_3$ ($T$ = transition metal, $X$= Si, Ge, Al), crystallizing in the non-centrosymmetric tetragonal BaNiSn$_3$-type structure. Magnetization, specific heat and resistivity measurements all show that CeZnAl$_3$ orders magnetically below around 4.4 K. Furthermore, magnetization measurements exhibit a hysteresis loop at low temperatures and fields, indicating the presence of a ferromagnetic component in the magnetic state. This points to a different nature of the magnetism in CeZnAl$_3$ compared to the other isostructural Ce$T$Al$_3$ compounds. Resistivity measurements under pressures up to 1.8 GPa show a moderate suppression of the ordering temperature with pressure, suggesting that measurements to higher pressures are required to look for quantum critical behavior.