Anomalous Transport Properties of Re$_3$Ge$_7$

TL;DR

This study investigates the unusual transport properties of Re$_3$Ge$_7$, revealing a phase transition at 58.5K, a metal-to-insulator-like transition, and significant magnetic field effects on electrical resistivity and carrier dynamics.

Contribution

It provides detailed experimental characterization of Re$_3$Ge$_7$, highlighting its anomalous transport behavior and the impact of magnetic fields on its electronic properties.

Findings

Phase transition at 58.5K confirmed by susceptibility and heat capacity.

Resistivity shows metal-to-insulator-like transition below T_c.

Magnetoresistivity develops a maximum around 30 K, deviating from normal metals.

Abstract

Single crystals of intermetallic Re$_3$Ge$_7$ were grown and characterized by measuring magnetization, electrical resistivity, Hall coefficient, and specific heat. Magnetization measurements show the material is weakly diamagnetic. A phase transition is indicated by a kink in magnetic susceptibility at $T_{c} = 58.5$K and is confirmed by a $\lambda$-like anomaly in specific heat. In zero-field, the temperature dependence of electrical resistivity $\rho(T)$ follows a typical metallic behavior above $T_c$ and sharply increases below $T_c$, showing a metal-to-insulator-like transition. When a magnetic field is applied, strong effects on the transport properties are observed. The temperature dependence of magnetoresistivity $\Delta\rho$ = $\rho (T, H)$ - $\rho (T, H=0)$ develops a maximum around 30 K, deviating from ordinary metallic behavior. Analysis of the Hall coefficient measurements indicates that the carrier density is 0.04 per formula unit at 300 K and drops by two orders of magnitude below $T_c$. The effective mass of charge carriers is inferred from the analysis of the Shubnikov-de Haas quantum oscillations to be close to the bare electron mass.