Europium Clustering and Glassy Magnetic Behavior in Inorganic Clathrate-VIII Eu(8)Ga(16)Ge(30)

The temperature- and field-dependent, electrical and thermal properties of inorganic clathrate-VIII Eu(8)Ga(16)Ge(30) were investigated. The type VIII clathrates were obtained from the melt of elements as reported previously. Specifically, the electrical resistivity data show hysteretic magnetoresistance at low temperatures, and the Seebeck coefficient and Hall data indicate magnetic interactions that affect the electronic structure in this material. Heat capacity and thermal conductivity data corroborate these findings and reveal the complex behavior due to Eu(2+) magnetic ordering and clustering from approximately 13 to 4 K. Moreover, the low-frequency dynamic response indicates Eu(8)Ga(16)Ge(30) to be a glassy magnetic system. In addition to advancing our fundamental understanding of the physical properties of this material, our results can be used to further the research for potential applications of interest in the fields of magnetocalorics or thermoelectrics.