Ambient- and high-pressure studies of structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of single-crystal EuZn2P2

A thorough study of EuZn₂P₂ single crystals, which were grown from Sn flux, was performed using both bulk (heat capacity, ac susceptibility, dc magnetization, electrical resistivitivity, magnetoresistance) and microscopic (M\"ossbauer spectroscopy) techniques. Electrical resistance and magnetic susceptibility were measured also under high pressure conditions (up to 19 and 9.5 GPa, respectively). Further insight into electronic properties and phonons is provided by ab initio calculations. The results indicate that EuZn₂P₂ is an antiferromagnet with strong Eu-Eu exchange coupling of ferromagnetic type within the basal plane and weaker antiferromagnetic interaction along the c axis. The Eu magnetic moments are tilted from the basal plane. Hydrostatic pressure strongly affects both magnetic (increase of the N\'eel temperature) and electronic (suppression of the band gap and semimetallic behavior) properties, indicating a strong interplay of structure with magnetic and electronic degrees of freedom.