Electrical transport and magnetic properties of the triangular-lattice compound Zr$_2$NiP$_2$

Abstract

We report the first investigation of the electrical and magnetic properties of the triangular-lattice compound Zr$_2$NiP$_2$ (space group $P$6$_3$/$mmc$). The temperature evolution of electrical resistivity follows the Bloch-Gr\"uneisen-Mott law, and exhibits a typically metallic behavior. No transition is visible by both electrical and magnetic property measurements, and nearly no magnetization is detected ($M_0$ $<$ 0.002$\mu_\mathrm{B}$/Ni) down to 1.8 K up to 7 T. The metallic and nonmagnetic characters are well understood by the first-principles calculations for Zr$_2$NiP$_2$.