Crystal growth, magnetic and electrical transport properties of the kagome magnet RCr6Ge6 (R = Gd–Tm)

Abstract

Abstract Kagome magnets have attracted considerable research attention due to the interplay between topology, magnetism and electronic correlations. In this study we report single-crystal synthesis of a series of the kagome magnets RCr6Ge6 (R = Gd–Tm) that possess defect-free Cr kagome lattices and systematically study their magnetic and electrical transport properties. The transition from a canted ferrimagnetic to a paramagnetic state in GdCr6Ge6, TbCr6Ge6, DyCr6Ge6, HoCr6Ge6, ErCr6Ge6 and TmCr6Ge6 occurs at 11.3 K, 10.8 K, 4.3 K, 2.5 K, 3.3 K and below 2 K, respectively, due to R–R interactions within the compounds. Magnetization measurements reveal highly anisotropic magnetism with canted magnetic moments in these compounds. In electrical transport, both negative and positive magnetoresistances at different magnetic fields and temperatures have been observed due to the competition between different scattering mechanisms. This work enriches our understanding of the Cr-based kagome magnets and paves the way to search for possible topological responses in this family.