Magnetic behavior of Gd3Ru4Al12, a layered compound with distorted kagomé net

Abstract

The magnetic behavior of the compound, Gd3Ru4Al12, which was reported about two decades ago to crystallize in a hexagonal structure (space group P63/mmc), has not been investigated in the past literature despite interesting structural features (that is, magnetic layers and triangular as well as kagomé-lattice features favoring frustrated magnetism) characterizing this compound. We report here the results of studies of magnetization, heat capacity and magnetoresistance in the temperature range T = 1.8–300 K. The results establish that there is a long-range magnetic order of antiferromagnetic type below (TN =) 18.5 K, despite a much larger value (~80 K) of paramagnetic Curie temperature with a positive sign characteristic of ferromagnetic interaction. We attribute this to geometric frustration. The most interesting finding is that there is an additional magnetic anomaly below ~55 K before the onset of long-range order in the magnetic susceptibility data. Concurrent with this observation, the sign of isothermal change in entropy, ΔS = S(0) − S(H), where H is the externally applied magnetic field, remains positive above TN, with a broad peak. This observation indicates the presence of ferromagnetic clusters before the onset of long-range magnetic order. Thus, this compound may serve as an example of a situation in which magnetic frustration due to geometrical reasons faces competition from such magnetic precursor effects. There is also a reversal of the sign of −ΔS in the curves for lower final fields (H < 30 kOe) on entering the magnetically ordered state consistent with the entrance to an antiferromagetic state. The magnetoresistance behavior is consistent with the above conclusions.