EuSnP: A novel antiferromagnet with two-dimensional, corrugated Sn sheets

Large single crystals of EuSnP were grown from a tin flux. The crystal structure of EuSnP is the NbCrN structure type. The new compound crystallizes in the tetragonal system, space group P4/nmm, with the lattice constants a=4.2783(6) Å and c=8.762(2) Å, at T=130 K (Z=2, R₁ = 0.0382, wR₂ = 0.1002). Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements on single crystals indicate that EuSnP is an antiferromagnet with a Néel temperature of 21 K. The high temperature paramagnetic data can be fit to a Curie-Weiss law and are consistent with the assignment of a 2 + valence to the Eu ions, seven unpaired electrons. The magnetic susceptibility below the Néel temperature is anisotropic, showing a metamagnetic transition when the field is applied perpendicular to the crystallographic c axis. A spin-reorientation occurs below the Néel temperature with an applied critical field, H_c = 1.5 Tesla at 2 K. Temperature dependent resistivity indicates metallic behavior with a negative magnetoresistive transition at the magnetic ordering temperature. This transition is suppressed with magnetic field.