Anisotropic magnetism and Kondo-lattice behavior in the frustrated antiferromagnet Ce 3 MgBi 5
Here, we report the synthesis and physical characterization of single-crystalline Ce 3 MgBi 5 , a previously unexplored member of the Ce 3 𝑀𝑃𝑛 5 family. This compound crystallizes in the hexagonal 𝑃6 3 /𝑚𝑐𝑚 structure, featuring an anisotropic Ce sublattice composed of zigzag chains along the 𝑐 axis and a distorted kagome-like network in the basal plane. Magnetization measurements reveal antiferromagnetic order below 𝑇 𝑁 ≈ 4.2K with strong magnetic anisotropy and multiple field-induced metamagnetic transitions for fields applied perpendicular to [001], leading to a dome-shaped 𝐻–𝑇 phase diagram. Electrical transport exhibits characteristic signatures of a Ce-based Kondo lattice, including broad resistivity maxima and pronounced field-dependent anomalies in the magnetoresistance and Hall response that track the magnetic phase boundaries. Specific-heat measurements confirm the magnetic transition and show that the full R ln 2 entropy expected for a Ce 3+ Kramers doublet is recovered by 20 K, indicating an extended temperature range of magnetic fluctuations consistent with Kondo correlations. Our results establish Ce 3 MgBi 5 as a platform within the Ce 3 𝑀𝑃𝑛 5 family for exploring the interplay of geometric frustration, magnetic anisotropy, and Kondo-lattice physics under applied magnetic fields.