Resistivity and magnetoresistance properties of R2NiSi3 (R = Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm) compounds

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials Vol. 512; no. C; p. 167055
• Main Authors: Pakhira, Santanu, Ranganathan, R., Mazumdar, Chandan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15-10-2020; Elsevier BV; Elsevier
• Subjects: Antiferromagnetism; Crossovers; Current carriers; Dysprosium; Electrical resistivity; Gadolinium; Intermetallic alloys and compounds; Intermetallic compounds; Low temperature; Magnetic anomalies; Magnetic materials; Magnetic properties; Magnetic transitions; Magnetoresistance; Magnetoresistivity; MATERIALS SCIENCE; Rare-earths; Resistivity; Temperature; Magnetic materials; Magnetoresistance; Resistivity; Rare-earths; Intermetallic alloys and compounds
• ISSN: 0304-8853; 1873-4766
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2020.167055

•Resistivity and MR properties of R2NiSi3 (R = Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, and Tm) have been reported.•Low temperature anomalies associated with complex magnetic interactions are observed.•ρ(T) minima caused by magnetic precursor effect is observed above TN for R = Gd and Dy.•In absence of magnetic ordering magnetic anomaly is observed around 10 K for R = Tm.•Short range magnetic correlation results in finite MR much above ordering temperature.
The resistivity and magnetoresistance behaviour of the hexagonal intermetallic compounds R2NiSi3(R = Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, and Tm) are reported here. All the studied polycrystalline compounds exhibit metallic behaviour along with additional magnetic anomalies at low temperatures. A well-defined resistivity minima is observed in Gd2NiSi3and Dy2Ni0.87Si2.95at a temperature much higher than their respective magnetic transition temperatures. The anomaly has been ascribed to the charge carrier localization caused by magnetic precursor effect. Magnetic field induced crossover from positive to negative magnetoresistance (MR) behaviour associated with antiferromagnetic ground state is evidenced for Gd2NiSi3and Er2NiSi3in the low temperature region. Although Tm2Ni0.93Si2.93does not exhibit any long range magnetic order down to 2 K, a sudden drop in resistivity behaviour is observed below ~10 K. Presence of short range magnetic correlation observed in a wide temperature range, much beyond their respective magnetic ordering temperatures, has been argued to be responsible for achieving finite negative MR for all the compounds. A subtle resemblance between the observed transport anomalies and the magnetic properties of these systems have been discussed.