Complex magnetic and transport properties in Pr3MgBi5: A material with distorted kagome lattice

Single crystals of Pr3MgBi5 were successfully grown and their structural and physical properties were investigated systematically. Pr3MgBi5 crystallizes in a hexagonal structure with the space group of P6(3)/mcm (No. 193), in which the Pr3+ ions form a distorted kagome lattice in the ab plane. Magnetic measurements and specific heat analysis reveal distinct anomalies at around 10.5 K, indicating an antiferromagnetic phase transition. Meanwhile, an obvious magnetic anisotropy and complex magnetic behavior are observed in this compound. The transport properties of Pr3MgBi5 are strongly coupled to its magnetism. Specifically, for H//ab, a large and positive quasilinear magnetoresistance is observed at T = 2 K, accompanied by anomalies at the metamagnetic transition in the magnetization-field curve. Additionally, a pronounced anomalous Hall effect is observed at low temperatures. Our study not only expands the RE3MBi5 (RE = rare earth) family but also provides an excellent opportunity to explore unconventional spin structures arising from the interplay between geometrical frustration and long-range Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interactions.