We report the design, synthesis, crystal structure, and physical properties of a layered intergrowth compound, Eu2CuMn2P3. The structure of Eu2CuMn2P3 features an alternating arrangement of hexagonal EuCuP block layers and trigonal EuMn2P2 block layers, interconnected through shared Eu planes. This structural hybridization leads to multiple magnetic orderings in Eu2CuMn2P3: weak antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering of Mn at TNMn = 80 K, AFM ordering of Eu at TNEu = 29 K, a spin-reorientation transition at TSR = 14.5 K, and weak ferromagnetism below TNMn. The spin configurations at different temperature regions were discussed based on the calculations of magnetic energies for various collinear arrangements. Resistivity measurements reveal a pronounced transition peak at TNEu, which is suppressed in the presence of a magnetic field, resulting in a significant negative magnetoresistance effect. The computed semimetallic band structure, characterized by a small density of states at the Fermi level, aligns well with experimental observations. The successful synthesis of Eu2CuMn2P3 and its fascinating magnetic properties highlight the effectiveness of our block-layer design strategy. By assembling magnetic block layers of compounds with compatible crystal symmetries and closely matched lattice parameters, this approach opens exciting avenues for discovering layered materials with unique magnetic behaviors.
@article{arxiv.2504.17415,
title = {Structural design and multiple magnetic orderings of the intergrowth compound Eu$_2$CuMn$_2$P$_3$},
author = {Xiyu Chen and Ziwen Wang and Wuzhang Yang and Jia-Yi Lu and Zhiyu Zhou and Zhi Ren and Guang-Han Cao and Shuai Dong and Zhi-Cheng Wang},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2504.17415},
year = {2025}
}