Physical properties at the 157K-phase transition in Pr₄Ni₃O₁₀

As a member of the the Ruddlesden–Popper Ln₄Ni₃O₁₀ series rare earth nickelates, the Pr₄Ni₃O₁₀ is constituted by three Ni-O layers piled up to a quasi-two-dimensional perovskite-like structure[i], and shows mixed Ni valent states of +2 and +3. A phase transition at ~ 157 K has already been observed in previous studies, which was interpreted as a charge-density wave (CDW) transition[ii]^,[iii]. We have grown single crystals of Pr₄Ni₃O₁₀ in high oxygen pressure, and report on the physical properties around that phase transition, such as heat capacity, magnetization and electron transport. We observe a distinct anisotropy between in-plane and out-of-plane properties both in zero-field and in magneto-resistance. In addition, the magnetic susceptibility obeys a Curie-weiss law, with different Curie constants for the high temperature and the low temperature phases. We discuss a possible scenario in which a change of the d orbitals of the Ni ions at the Fermi level explains the changes in all these measured quantities at the phase transition.

[i] Greenblatt, M. (1997). Current Opinion in Solid State and Materials Science, 2(2), 174-183.

[ii] Zhang, Z.. (1995).Journal of solid state chemistry, 117(2), 236-246.

[iii] Li, H.. (2017). Nature communications, 8(1), 704.