Superexchange Interaction in Insulating EuZn${}_2$P${}_2$

Abstract

We report magnetic and transport properties of single-crystalline EuZn${}_2$P${}_2$, which has trigonal CaAl${}_2$Si${}_2$-type crystal structure and orders antiferromagnetically at $\approx$23~K. Easy $ab$-plane magneto-crystalline anisotropy was confirmed from the magnetization isotherms, measured with a magnetic field applied along different crystallographic directions ($ab$-plane and $c$-axis). Positive Curie-Weiss temperature indicates dominating ferromagnetic correlations. Electrical resistivity displays insulating behavior with a band-gap of $\approx$0.177~eV, which decreases to $\approx$0.13~eV upon application of a high magnetic field. We explained the intriguing presence of magnetic interactions in an intermetallic insulator by the mechanism of extended superexchange, with phosphorus as an anion mediator, which is further supported by our analysis of the charge and spin density distributions. We constructed the effective Heisenberg model, with exchange parameters derived from the \textit{ab initio} DFT calculations, and employed it in Monte-Carlo simulations, which correctly reproduced the experimental value of Néel temperature.

References in corpus (15)

• Ab-initio calculations of exchange interactions, spin-wave stiffness constants, and Curie temperatures of Fe, Co, and Ni
• Higher-order Topology of Axion Insulator EuIn${}_2$As${}_2$
• Coupling of magnetic order and charge transport in the candidate Dirac semimetal EuCd${}_2$As${}_2$
• Super-Exchange Theory for Polyvalent Anion Magnets
• Magnetic, thermal, and electronic-transport properties of EuMg2Bi2 single crystals
• Field-induced Topological Hall effect in antiferromagnetic axion insulator candidate EuIn${}_2$As${}_2$
• Dipolar Magnetic Interactions and A-type Antiferromagnetic Order in the Zintl Phase Insulator EuZn2P2
• Anisotropy of the magnetic and transport properties in EuZn${}_2$As${}_2$
• Colossal magnetoresistance in EuZn${}_2$P${}_2$ and its electronic and magnetic structure
• Resonant X-ray scattering study of diffuse magnetic scattering from the topological semimetals EuCd${}_2$As${}_2$ and EuCd${}_2$Sb${}_2$
• A-type antiferromagnetic order in semiconducting EuMg${}_2$Sb${}_2$ single crystals
• Electronic properties of Bi${}_2$Se${}_3$ dopped by $3d$ transition metal (Mn, Fe, Co, or Ni) ions
• Zero-field magnetic ground state of EuMg${}_2$Bi${}_2$
• Hund's physics and the magnetic ground state of CrOX (X = Cl, Br)
• Influence of $f$ Electrons on the Electronic Band Structure of Rare-Earth Nickelates

Cited by in corpus (11)

• Carrier-induced transition from antiferromagnetic insulator to ferromagnetic metal in the layered phosphide EuZn${}_2$P${}_2$
• Manipulating magnetism and transport properties of EuCd${}_2$P${}_2$ with a low carrier concentration
• Ambient and high pressure studies of structural, electronic and magnetic properties of EuZn${}_2$P${}_2$ single crystal
• Unusual magnetic and transport properties in the Zintl phase Eu${}_{11}$Zn${}_6$As${}_{12}$
• Recent advances in understanding and manipulating magnetic and electronic properties of Eu$M_2{X}_2$ ($M$ = Zn, Cd; $X$ = P, As)
• Chiral phononic and electronic edge modes of EuPtSi
• Interplay of short-range bond order and A-type antiferromagnetic order in metallic triangular lattice GdZn${}_3$P${}_3$
• Synthesis of europium-based crystals containing As or P by a flux method: attempts to grow EuAgP single crystals
• Temperature Dependent Evolution of the Electronic Structure in EuZn2As2 across the Neel Transition
• Magnetic structure of EuZn${}_2$Sb${}_2$ single-crystal thin-film
• Engineering a Correlated Narrow-Gap Semiconductor: Effects of Ga Substitution in EuZn${}_2$P${}_2$