Transport and magnetic properties of the Er5Si4 compound

Abstract

In this work we report detailed measurements of the electrical resistivity ρ(T), thermopower S(T) and magnetization M(T) of Er5Si4 near the structural and magnetic phase transitions. These transitions are well decoupled, with the structural transition occurring at TS = 190 K (on cooling) and the magnetic transition occurring at TC 30 K. The large thermal hysteresis occurring in the structural transition demonstrates its first-order nature being accompanied with a strong variation ΔS/S essentially due the change in the number of carriers. Our magnetic and transport measurements below the magnetic phase transition suggest the presence of weak ferromagnetism.