Evidence for two electronic components in NaxCoO2 (x = 0.7-0.75)

Abstract

Thermodynamic and transport measurements on NaxCoO2 (x ~ 0.7-0.75) over a wide temperature range reveal a strongly enhanced low energy excitation spectrum. The zero-field specific heat and resistance at low temperature are proportional to T^n with n<1, in sharp contrast to behavior found in ordinary Landau Fermi-liquid metals. For temperatures below ~5 K this unusual excitation seen in the specific heat is partially suppressed in a magnetic field, following a T/B scaling. The specific heat reduction at low T is partially compensated by an increase at higher temperature. A quantitative comparison with the magnetoresistance and the thermopower indicates that the low- energy electronic state requires a description beyond the single band model.