Weak localization and electron-phonon interaction in layered Zintl phase SrIn2P2single crystal

Huanhuan Wang; Xiangde Zhu; Zheng Chen; Fangjun Lu; Huijie Li; Yuyan Han; Liang Li; Wenshuai Gao; Wei Ning; Mingliang Tian

doi:10.1088/1361-648X/abe96d

Weak localization and electron-phonon interaction in layered Zintl phase SrIn₂P₂single crystal

J Phys Condens Matter. 2021 May 13;33(24). doi: 10.1088/1361-648X/abe96d.

Authors

Huanhuan Wang¹, Xiangde Zhu², Zheng Chen², Fangjun Lu², Huijie Li¹, Yuyan Han², Liang Li¹, Wenshuai Gao^{1

2}, Wei Ning², Mingliang Tian^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials of Ministry of Education, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, School of Physics and Materials Science, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, People's Republic of China.
² Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Condensed Matter Physics at Extreme Conditions, High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, People's Republic of China.

PMID: 33626519
DOI: 10.1088/1361-648X/abe96d

Abstract

Recently, the Zintl phase SrIn₂P₂single crystal was proposed to be a topological insulator candidate under lattice strain. Here, we report systematic electrical transport studies on the unstrained layered SrIn₂P₂single crystals. The resistance presents a minimum value aroundT_c= 136 K and then increases remarkably at low temperature. Distinct negative magnetoresistance belowT_c, combined with the anomalous resistance, implies the carriers are weak localized at low temperature due to strong quantum coherence. Further analysis based on three-dimensional weak localization (WL) model suggests that the electron-phonon interaction dominates the phase decoherence process. Moreover, Hall measurements indicate that the transport properties are mainly dominated by hole-type carriers, and the WL effect is obviously affected by the carrier transport. These findings not only provide us a promising platform for the fundamental physical research but also open up a new route for exploring the potential electronic applications.

Keywords: electron–phonon interaction; quantum coherence; weak localization.