Dipolar Magnetic Interactions and A-type Antiferromagnetic Order in the Zintl Phase Insulator EuZn2P2

TL;DR

This study explores the magnetic and electronic properties of EuZn2P2, a Zintl phase insulator with unique Eu2+ magnetic ordering, revealing insights into dipolar interactions and potential for topological phases.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive synthesis and characterization of EuZn2P2, demonstrating its high magnetic ordering temperature and validating the electronic subunit model for Zintl phases.

Findings

EuZn2P2 exhibits the highest Eu magnetic ordering temperature among similar compounds.

The material shows insulating behavior with a bandgap of 0.11 eV.

Dipolar interactions influence magnetic ordering independently of electrical conductivity.

Abstract

Zintl phases, containing strongly covalently bonded frameworks with separate ionically bonded ions, have emerged as a critical materials family in which to couple magnetism and strong spin-orbit coupling to drive diverse topological phases of matter. Here we report the single-crystal synthesis, magnetic, thermodynamic, transport, and theoretical properties of the Zintl compound EuZn2P2 that crystallizes in the anti-La2O3 P-3m1 structure, containing triangular layers of Eu2+ ions. In-plane resistivity measurements reveal insulating behavior with an estimated bandgap of Eg=0.11eV. Comparing Eu magnetic ordering temperatures across trigonal EuM2X2 (M=divalent metal, X=pnictide) shows that EuZn2P2 exhibits the highest ordering temperature, with variations in TN correlating with changes in expected dipolar interaction strengths within and between layers and independent of the magnitude of electrical conductivity. These results provide experimental validation of the cytochemical intuition that the cation Eu2+ layers and the anionic (M2X2)2- framework can be treated as electronically distinct subunits, enabling further predictive materials design.