Thermodynamic and Magnetotransport Properties of High Quality Na0.77CoO2 Single Crystals

Heat capacity and electrical resistivity of high-quality Na0.77CoO2 single crystals was systematically studied as a function of temperature and magnetic field. Anomalies at 20 K have been observed both in the heat capacity and the electrical resistivity. The broad bump in the heat capacity indicates a smeared magnetic phase transition. Magnetic fields up to 9 T, oriented perpendicularly to the ab plane, reduce the temperature of this anomaly in accordance with the assumption of A-type antiferromagnetic ordering. The low temperature upturn observed in resistivity below 20 K for slow cooling is also suppressed by the magnetic field. This anomaly is probably the consequence of the interplay of several different mechanisms, including the Kondo effect, electron-electron interactions, and electron-phonon scattering.