Triangular Kondo lattice in $\mathrm{YbV_6Sn_6}$ and its quantum critical behaviors in magnetic field

Abstract

We report magnetization, heat capacity and electrical resistivity for a newly discovered heavy fermion (HF) compound $\mathrm{YbV_6Sn_6}$ which is crystallized in a hexagonal $\mathrm{HfFe_6Ge_6}$-type structure, highlighted by the stacking of triangular ytterbium sublattice and kagome vanadium sublattice. Above 2 K, $\mathrm{YbV_6Sn_6}$ shows typical HF properties due to the Kondo effect on the Kramers doublet of $\mathrm{Yb^{3+}}$ ions in crystal 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 (NFL) behavior. In strong magnetic field the compound shows a heavy Fermi liquid state. $\mathrm{YbV_6Sn_6}$ presents as one of the few examples of Yb-based HF compounds hosting triangular Kondo lattice on which a magnetic field induces quantum criticality near zero temperature.