Anisotropic character of the metal-to-metal transition in P r4N i3O10
Abstract
As a member of the Ruddlesden-Popper L nn +1N inO3 n +1 series rare-earth-nickelates, P r4N i3O10 consists of infinite quasi-two-dimensional perovskite-like Ni-O based layers. Although a metal-to-metal phase transition at Tp t≈157 K has been revealed by previous studies, a comprehensive study of physical properties associated with this transition has not yet been performed. We have grown single crystals of P r4N i3O10 at high oxygen pressure, and report on the physical properties around that phase transition, such as heat-capacity, electric-transport, and magnetization. We observe a distinctly anisotropic behavior between in-plane and out-of-plane properties: a metal-to-metal transition at Tp t within the a-b plane, and a metal-to-insulator-like transition along the c axis with decreasing temperature. Moreover, an anisotropic and anomalous negative magnetoresistance is observed at Tp t that we attribute to a slight suppression of the first-order transition with magnetic field. The magnetic susceptibility can be well described by a Curie-Weiss law, with different Curie constants and Pauli-spin susceptibilities between the high-temperature and the low-temperature phases. The single crystal x-ray diffraction measurements show a shape variation of the different Ni O6 octahedra from the high-temperature phase to the low-temperature phase. This subtle change of the environment of the Ni sites is likely responsible for the different physical properties at high and low temperatures.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review B
- Pub Date:
- March 2020
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevB.101.104104
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2001.05916
- Bibcode:
- 2020PhRvB.101j4104H
- Keywords:
-
- Condensed Matter - Materials Science;
- Condensed Matter - Strongly Correlated Electrons;
- Condensed Matter - Superconductivity
- E-Print:
- Phys. Rev. B 101, 104104 (2020)