Electrical transport and magnetic properties of the triangular-lattice compound Zr$_2$NiP$_2$

TL;DR

This study explores the electrical and magnetic properties of the triangular-lattice compound Zr$_2$NiP$_2$, revealing metallic behavior and negligible magnetization, supported by first-principles calculations.

Contribution

First investigation of Zr$_2$NiP$_2$'s electrical and magnetic properties, providing experimental data and theoretical understanding of its metallic and nonmagnetic nature.

Findings

Electrical resistivity follows Bloch-Grüneisen-Mott law.

No magnetic transition observed down to 1.8 K.

Compound exhibits metallic and nonmagnetic behavior.

Abstract

We report the first investigation of the electrical and magnetic properties of the triangular-lattice compound Zr$_2$NiP$_2$ (space group $P$6$_3$/$mmc$). The temperature evolution of electrical resistivity follows the Bloch-Gr\"uneisen-Mott law, and exhibits a typically metallic behavior. No transition is visible by both electrical and magnetic property measurements, and nearly no magnetization is detected ($M_0$ $<$ 0.002$\mu_\mathrm{B}$/Ni) down to 1.8 K up to 7 T. The metallic and nonmagnetic characters are well understood by the first-principles calculations for Zr$_2$NiP$_2$.