Exceptional magnetic anomalies in TbIrIn5

Abstract

We study the single crystal growth and the electronic properties of TbIrIn5. The single crystals of TbIrIn5 were grown using the flux method. The analysis of the x-ray diffraction pattern shows high-quality single crystals formed in a tetragonal crystal structure. A trace of In-flux was also found in the data. Temperature and field-dependent magnetic measurements exhibit strong anisotropy and antiferromagnetic ordering with a Neel temperature of 43.2 K. The estimated Tb-moment from the data in the paramagnetic regime is found to be close to its free ion value. Interestingly, a strong diamagnetic behaviour and sharp resistivity drop typical of the superconducting phase is observed below 2.6 K which may have a link to the trace of indium present in the system. Further studies are required to ascertain this finding.