Anisotropic magnetism and Kondo-lattice behavior in the frustrated antiferromagnet Ce3MgBi5

Abstract

We report the synthesis and physical characterization of single-crystalline Ce3⁢MgBi5, a previously unexplored member of the Ce3⁢𝑀⁢𝑃⁢𝑛5 family. This compound crystallizes in the hexagonal 𝑃⁢63/𝑚⁢𝑐⁢𝑚 structure, featuring an anisotropic Ce sublattice composed of zigzag chains along the 𝑐 axis and a distorted kagome-like network in the basal plane. Magnetization measurements reveal antiferromagnetic order below 𝑇𝑁≈4.2K with strong magnetic anisotropy and multiple field-induced metamagnetic transitions for fields applied perpendicular to [001], leading to a dome-shaped 𝐻–𝑇 phase diagram. Electrical transport exhibits characteristic signatures of a Ce-based Kondo lattice, including broad resistivity maxima and pronounced field-dependent anomalies in the magnetoresistance and Hall response that track the magnetic phase boundaries. Specific-heat measurements confirm the magnetic transition and show that the full R⁢ln⁡2 entropy expected for a Ce3+ Kramers doublet is recovered by 20 K, indicating an extended temperature range of magnetic fluctuations consistent with Kondo correlations. Our results establish Ce3⁢MgBi5 as a platform within the Ce3⁢𝑀⁢𝑃⁢𝑛5 family for exploring the interplay of geometric frustration, magnetic anisotropy, and Kondo-lattice physics under applied magnetic fields.