Specific Heat of Layered Ruthenates Sr2Ru1−xZrxO4

Abstract

We have measured specific heat (Cp) for polycrystalline single‐phased Sr2Ru1−xZrxO4 (0.0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.8). The value of Cp at low temperatures is reduced with increasing x. Both of the Debye temperature (Θ) and the electronic specific heat coefficient (γ) estimated from the data decreased with increasing x for x < 0.4. The smaller γ towards x = 0.4 seems to blend into the insulating transport property for x ⩾ 0.4. We argue that the decrease of Θ with increasing x stems from the increased unit‐cell volume.