Thermodynamic and electrical transport properties of the layered triangular Ce lattice compound CeAuAl4Ge2

We report electronic and magnetic properties of single crystalline CeAuAl$_{\mathrm{4}}$Ge$_{\mathrm{2}}$. This compound crystallizes in a rhombohedral structure (S.G. {\#}166) and may host geometrical magnetic frustration on the Ce sub-lattice. Electrical transport measurements show metallic behavior with a small residual resistivity ($\rho_{\mathrm{0}}$ $=$ 3 $\mu \Omega $cm). Quantum oscillations are seen in the ac magnetic susceptibility, which uncover a three-dimensional Fermi surface. Weak hybridization between the f- and conduction electron states is indicated by the simple-metallic temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity, the small electronic coefficient of the heat capacity, and the small charge carrier effective masses ($m$* $\approx $ 0.4 - 1 $m_{\mathrm{e}})$. As evidenced by the magnetic susceptibility, there is an appreciable difference between the Curie-Weiss temperature ($\Theta \quad \approx $ -90 K) and the onset of the magnetic ordering temperature ($T_{\mathrm{M}} \quad =$ 1.4 K), suggesting that magnetic frustration dominates the magnetic behavior. We will discuss the prospects for studying magnetic frustration in a simple metallic environment, and for tuning the magnetic ordering towards a frustrated quantum phase transition.