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Abstract:
The magnetic, thermodynamic, and electrical/thermal transport properties
of the caged-structure quasi-skutterudite Gd3Ir4Sn13 are
re-investigated. The magnetization M(T), the specific heat C-p(T), and
the resistivity rho(T) reveal a double-phase transition-at T-N1 similar
to 10K and at T-N2 similar to 8.8 K-which was not observed in the
previous report on this compound. The antiferromagnetic transition is
also visible in the thermal transport data, thereby suggesting a close
connection between the electronic and lattice degrees of freedom in this
Sn-based quasi-skutterudite. The temperature dependence of rho(T) is
analyzed in terms of a power-law for resistivity pertinent to Fermi
liquid picture. Giant, positive magnetoresistance (MR) approximate to
80% is observed in Gd3Ir4Sn13 at 2K with the application of 9 T. The
giant MR and the double magnetic transition can be attributed to the
quasi-cages and layered antiferromagnetic structure of Gd3Ir4Sn13
vulnerable to structural distortions and/or dipolar or
spin-reorientation effects. The giant value of MR observed in this class
of 3: 4: 13 type alloys, especially in a Gd-compound, is the highlight
of this work. (C) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC.
