Magnetic Properties of Layered Rare-Earth Zinc Phosphide HoZn3P3 Prepared under High Pressure

The magnetic properties of the two-dimensional triangular-lattice compound HoZn3P3 synthesized under high pressure are reported. We have performed magnetization, electrical resistivity, and specific heat measurements of the compound. The magnetic susceptibility shows an anomaly at around 5 K attributed to a magnetic ordering. The resistivity reveals metallic behavior and a minimum at around 17 K (Tmin); then, an upturn of the resistivity below Tmin shows a logarithmic dependence of the temperature (−log T). Furthermore, the resistivity exhibits a sharp drop at 4.5 K, which corresponds to the magnetic ordering. The upturn of the resistivity at low temperatures was suppressed by a magnetic field. The specific heat shows a clear peak at TM = 4.5 K due to the magnetic ordering. The TM shifts towards a high temperature at a rate of 0.06 K/kOe. A large γ value of 199 mJ/mol K2 was observed, and the γ value increases as the magnetic field increases and shows a maximum at 60 kOe. We demonstrate the crucial role of the hybridization between 4f electrons and conduction electrons depending on the distance between rare-earth R atoms in determining the transport and magnetic properties of RZn3P3.