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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Giant Negative Magnetoresistance in GdI2: Prediction and Realization

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description

The electronic structure of the layered d1 compound GdI2 has been examined systematically in view of its relation to other layered d1 systems including superconducting and isostructural 2H-TaS2 and 2H-NbSe2. A van Hove type instability is evident in suitable representations of the Fermi surface. The presence of the half-filled and magnetic 4f level should preclude the possibility of superconductivity. Instead GdI2 orders ferromagnetically at 290(5) K and displays large negative magnetoresistance ≈70% at 7 T close to room temperature. This finding provides support to the idea that materials can be searched rationally for interesting properties through high level electronic structure calculations.