Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation

    Pressure-tuned flat-band instability and magnetic suppression in SmCrGe3

    Wenli Bi1,2,*, Cheng Peng3, Francisco J. Canales2, James Petri2, Mingyu Xu3, Dongzhou Zhang4, and Weiwei Xie3,†

    • *Contact author: wenlibi@sc.edu
    • †Contact author: xieweiwe@msu.edu

    Phys. Rev. B 114, 194420 – Published 23 October, 2026

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/5stq-h3mj

    Abstract

    Pressure provides a clean and continuous route for tuning electronic structure and magnetic interactions in itinerant ferromagnets without introducing chemical disorder. Here, we report high-pressure structural, transport, and electronic structure studies of hexagonal ferromagnetic SmCrGe3, a rare-earth chromium germanide that exhibits giant uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy and strong coupling between localized Sm 4f and itinerant Cr 3d electrons. Synchrotron high-pressure x-ray diffraction measurements reveal that the hexagonal P63/mmc structure remains stable up to 10 GPa without a crystallographic phase transition, indicating that the pressure-driven evolution is primarily electronic rather than structural in origin. High-pressure electrical resistance measurements show a nonmonotonic pressure dependence of the Curie temperature (TC) inferred from the resistance anomaly, where TC initially decreases with pressure, followed by a slight recovery before the magnetic order is suppressed above 6.4 GPa. Concomitantly, a low-temperature resistance minimum emerges above 4.3 GPa, consistent with enhanced Kondo-like scattering associated with Sm 4f electrons. Density functional theory calculations on SmCrGe3 reveal a highly pressure-sensitive Cr-derived flat band near the Fermi level. Systematic lattice-parameter tuning calculations further show that anisotropic lattice compression, particularly along the crystallographic c, strongly modifies the flat-band position relative to the Fermi level. These results identify SmCrGe3 as a promising platform for studying the coupled evolution of fragile itinerant ferromagnetism, pressure-sensitive flat-band electronic structure, and emergent 4f-derived correlated scattering under pressure.

    Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

    Authorization Required

    We need you to provide your credentials before accessing this content.

    Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

    References (Subscription Required)

    Outline

    Information

    Sign In to Your Journals Account

    Filter

    Filter

    Article Lookup

    Enter a citation