Exceptional magnetic anomalies in TbIrIn5

Abstract: We study the single crystal growth and the electronic properties of TbIrIn5. The single crystals of TbIrIn5 were grown using the flux method. The analysis of the x-ray diffraction pattern shows high-quality single crystals formed in a tetragonal crystal structure. A trace of In-flux was also found in the data. Temperature and field-dependent magnetic measurements exhibit strong anisotropy and antiferromagnetic ordering with a Neel temperature of 43.2 K. The estimated Tb-moment from the data in the paramagnetic regime is found to be close to its free ion value. Interestingly, a strong diamagnetic behaviour and sharp resistivity drop typical of the superconducting phase is observed below 2.6 K which may have a link to the trace of indium present in the system. Further studies are required to ascertain this finding.