Physical properties and magnetic structure of a layered antiferromagnet PrPd0.82Bi2**Project supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant Nos. 2017YFA0302901 and 2016YFA0300604), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 11774399), Beijing Natural Science Foundation, China (Grant No. Z180008), the K. C. Wong Education Foundation (Grant No. GJTD-2018-01), the DAAD-PPP programme, and the joint German-Sino

Abstract

We report the physical properties, crystalline and magnetic structures of singe crystals of a new layered antiferromagnetic (AFM) material PrPd0.82Bi2. The measurements of magnetic properties and heat capacity indicate an AFM phase transition at TN ∼ 7 K. A large Sommerfeld coefficient of 329.23 mJ⋅mol−1⋅K−2 is estimated based on the heat capacity data, implying a possible heavy-fermion behavior. The magnetic structure of this compound is investigated by a combined study of neutron powder and single-crystal diffraction. It is found that an A-type AFM structure with magnetic propagation wavevector k = (0 0 0) is formed below TN. The Pr3+ magnetic moment is aligned along the crystallographic c-axis with an ordered moment of 1.694(3) μB at 4 K, which is smaller than the effective moment of the free Pr3+ ion of 3.58 μB. PrPd0.82Bi2 can be grown as large as 1 mm×1 cm in area with a layered shape, and is very easy to be cleaved, providing a unique opportunity to study the interplay between magnetism, possible heavy fermions, and superconductivity.