The magnetic and electric transport properties in erbium-doped layered perovskite iridate Sr2–xErxIrO4.

The 5d oxide Sr 2 IrO 4 with a layered perovskite structure has been investigated due to its peculiar J eff = 1/2 insulating ground state. In this research, we investigate the evolution of magnetic and electric transport properties of Er-doped polycrystalline perovskite iridates Sr 2– x Er x IrO 4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.06). Er3+ is magnetic and can thus provide magnetic interactions with Ir. Also, Er3+ doping introduces a carrier-doping effect. We find that substituting Sr2+ with Er3+ still preserves the I 4 1 / acd crystal structure, while it causes the rotation of IrO 6 octahedra φ to decrease. In this case, the Ir–O1–Ir bond angle increases and the tetragonal distortion c / a decreases. The magnetic properties present a suppressed transition temperature, a decreased Curie–Weiss temperature, and an increased effective magnetic moment. The electrical resistivity of the doped samples decreases with doping, which originates from the crystal distortion and electron doping. Theoretical calculations represent an increase in band filling and an improvement in the conduction property with doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]