Magnetic Properties of NdCr2Si2C Single Crystal

We have prepared a NdCr2Si2C single crystal by Czochralski technique and investigated it by heat capacity and magnetization measurements in the temperature range 2-300 K and magnetic fields up to 6 T applied parallel to the principal crystallographic axes. A strongly anisotropic ferromagnetism has been observed with the T-C = 24 K and the ordered magnetic moment oriented entirely along the c-axis of the tetragonal structure whereas the basal plane response is weak paramagnetic. We also studied the electronic structure of the compound by first-principles DFT calculations, which predict existence of a stable Cr magnetic moment. Results of our present experiments do not allow resolving the question on the existence of the ordered Cr moments unambiguously.