Structural, Magnetic, and Superconducting Properties of Caged CompoundsROs2Zn20(R= La, Ce, Pr, and Nd)

Abstract

The electrical resistivity, magnetization, and specific heat of the caged compounds ROs2Zn20 (R = La, Ce, Pr, and Nd) have been measured to study their structural, magnetic, and superconducting properties. These measurements indicate that the compounds undergo structural transitions at Ts = 151, 109, 87, and 62 K, respectively. The decrease in Ts along with the lanthanoid contraction suggests that the high-temperature phase is more stable for a smaller lattice volume. Analysis of the lattice specific heat of LaOs2Zn20 reveals that the Zn atom at the 16c site encapsulated in the R2Zn12 cage vibrates at a low energy of 3 meV. For CeOs2Zn20, the small magnetic susceptibility with a broad maximum indicates the valence-fluctuating state of the Ce ions. In PrOs2Zn20, the crystalline electric field ground state of the 4f2 state of the Pr3+ ion remains in a non-Kramers doublet at T > Ts, which is lifted by symmetry lowering of the Pr site at T < Ts. Thereby, the quadrupolar degrees of freedom are quenched, avoidi...