Coupling between electronic transport and magnetism in Mn_2-xZn_xSb

We successfully grew Mn_2-xZn_xSb () single crystals and investigated their electronic and magnetic properties. Despite of a similar crystal structure characterized by a Cu₂Sb type tetragonal lattice, varying Zn content leads to a systematic evolution of magnetism, which further couples with transport properties and causes a change from metallic to non-metallic electron transport near x = 0.6. Our discoveries establish a new highly tunable platform with strong coupling between magnetism and electron transport, which possibly enables opportunities for exotic phenomena and new spin-devices.