ArXiv · 2026
Altermagnetism is a rapidly emerging paradigm in condensed matter magnetism, yet the number of experimentally confirmed altermagnetic candidates remains remarkably limited. Cr_(1/4)NbS₂ has long been theoretically proposed as a promising altermagnet, but there are no reports on experimental investigation of single crystals. Here, we report the successful growth of high-quality single crystals of Cr_(1/4)NbS₂ and present its structural, thermal, magnetic, and transport properties. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction provides detailed crystallographic information and confirms the hexagonal crystal symmetry (P6₃/mmc), one of the criteria for altermagnetic behavior. Resistivity and heat capacity measurements unambiguously identify an antiferromagnetic Néel temperature of T_N ∼ 141 K. Magnetotransport measurements reveal non-trivial features in the magnetoresistance and Hall response, indicative of quantum diffusive transport phenomena. Cr_(1/4)NbS₂, synthesized here for the first time in single-crystalline form, therefore serves as an experimental platform for probing the rich spectrum of phenomena predicted for altermagnetic materials.
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