Triangular Kondo lattice in YbV6Sn6 and its quantum critical behavior in a magnetic field

Abstract

We report on the magnetization, specific heat, and electrical resistivity for a newly discovered heavy-fermion (HF) compound, ${\mathrm{YbV}}_{6}{\mathrm{Sn}}_{6}$, which is crystallized in a hexagonal ${\mathrm{HfFe}}_{6}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{6}$-type structure, highlighted by the stacking of the triangular ytterbium sublattice and kagome vanadium sublattice. Above 2 K, ${\mathrm{YbV}}_{6}{\mathrm{Sn}}_{6}$ shows typical HF properties due to the Kondo effect on the Kramers doublet of ${\mathrm{Yb}}^{3+}$ ions in the crystalline electric field. A remarkable magnetic ordering occurs at ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}=0.40$ K in zero field, while a weak external field suppresses the ordering and induces non-Fermi-liquid behavior. In strong magnetic field, the compound shows a heavy Fermi-liquid state. ${\mathrm{YbV}}_{6}{\mathrm{Sn}}_{6}$ is represented as one of the few examples of Yb-based HF compounds hosting a triangular Kondo lattice on which a magnetic field induces quantum criticality near zero temperature.