Thermal conductivity of Ce₂Ru₃Ga₉ compound

The Ce-based 2:3:9 series of compounds are known for strongly correlated 4f-electron behaviour. Here, we report for the first time a study of the thermal conductivity κ (T) in zero and 9 T magnetic field for Ce₂Ru₃Ga₉ across the temperature range 2 K ≤ T ≤ 300 K. The zero-field temperature dependence of κ (T) exhibits a pronounced maximum, characteristic for metals with large electronic mean free path and towards room temperature κ (T) starts behaving in a manner usually attributed to the enhanced electron-phonon coupling. Based on the Wiedemann-Franz law the electronic and lattice contributions to the thermal conductivity were estimated. In high temperature region a distinct step-like anomaly at T^∗ = 203 K has been observed which signals a putative phase transition, probably of phononic or lattice origin. We furthermore discuss the effect of applied magnetic fields on the thermal transport in Ce₂Ru₃Ga₉.