Anomalous Transport and Thermal Properties of YInCu₄

Abstract

The magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity and low-temperature specific heat have been measured for a ternary compound YInCu₄ which forms the cubic C15b-type crystal structure. YInCu₄ is diamagnetic, which is probably due to the low density of conduction electrons. With decreasing temperature, the electrical resistivity increases to a broad maximum around 300 K and then decreases gradually to the lowest temperature. The temperature dependence of C⁄T, where C is the specific heat, is convex downward over the entire temperature range of measurement to 1.5 K. YInCu₄ may be classified as a semimetal. The origin of the transport and thermal anomalies may be explained in the framework of semimetallic substances.