Magnetic and magnetotransport properties of single-crystalline R_2PdGe_6(R = Pr,Gd and Tb)

Single crystals of R₂PdGe₆ (R = Pr, Gd and Tb) compounds were grown by the Bi-flux method. Pr₂PdGe₆ is an antiferromagnetic compound with Néel temperature T_N = 15 K, in which a field-induced magnetic transition (spin flip) occurs when a magnetic field is applied along either a or b axis; a small magnetization and hysteresis loop were observed when a field is applied along c axis. Gd₂PdGe₆ is a collinear antiferromagnetic compound with T_N = 37 K along b axis. Tb₂PdGe₆ is an antiferromagnetic compound with T_N = 48 K and its hard magnetization direction is along b axis. The temperature dependences of the resistance of the entire three compounds present inflection points at the respective T_N. A large resistance (as well as magnetoresistance) change can be found at the spin flip transition of Pr₂PdGe₆, but the change is not obvious at the spin flop transition of Gd₂PdGe₆.