Synthesis and characterization of iQC Al13Cr2 phase single crystal

We report the synthesis of icosaherdral quasicrystal (iQC) Al₁₃Cr₂ phase single crystal via Al self-flux method. Powder X-ray diffraction study shows that it crystallizes in a monoclinic structure (space group C2/m) with a unit cell of a = 25.3420 (5) Å, b = 7.6134 (5) Å, c = 11.0559 (5) Å, and β = 128.9°. Electrical resistivity of iQC Al₁₃Cr₂ phase single crystal decreases with decreasing temperature, showing a metallic behavior. At low temperatures, it is reasonably fitted with T² dependence, implying the Fermi liquid behavior. The T²-coefficient A of the resistivity is 0.00182 μΩ cm/K², leading to the estimated Sommerfeld coefficient γ of 13.49 mJ/molK² from Kadowaki-Woods relation. DC calorimetry measurements show that the specific heat divided by temperature (C/T) at T = 0 K is approximately 16.26 mJ/molK², which is comparable with that estimated from resistivity data. We note that, unlike Al₁₄Cr₂ compound with an AFM order, magnetization data of Al₁₃Cr₂ phase single crystal showed is almost independent of temperature over the wide range of temperature, indicating that moments from Cr ions are screened.