Crystal growth, structural and physical properties of the 5d noncentrosymmetric LaOsSi3.

LaOsSi3 single crystals are synthesized for the first time by an arc melting method. The crystal features a tetragonal BaNiSn3-type structure (space group I4mm) which lacks inversion symmetry along the crystallographic c axis and is isostructural with the intensively studied Rashba-type noncentrosymmetric superconductors LaRhSi3 and LaIrSi3. Unlike LaRhSi3 and LaIrSi3 displaying superconductivity, LaOsSi3 shows only metallic behavior over the measured temperature range of 2 K–300 K. The Sommerfeld coefficient γ derived from specific heat is 5.76 mJ·mol−1K−2, indicating that LaOsSi3 has a weak electronic correlation effect. The absence of superconductivity in LaOsSi3 may lie in the Os 5d bands in the electronic structure. If it is true, it would be useful to provide complementary knowledge in understanding the relation between conduction and the d bands of M in LaMSi3 compounds (M = transition metals). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]