Thermodynamic evidence for polaron stabilization inside the antiferromagnetic order of Eu5In2Sb6

Materials exhibiting electronic inhomogeneities at the nanometer scale have enormous potential for applications. Magnetic polarons are one such type of inhomogeneity which link the electronic, magnetic and lattice degrees of freedom in correlated matter and often give rise to colossal magnetoresistance. Here, we investigate single crystals of Eu5In2Sb6 by thermal expansion and magnetostriction along different crystallographic directions. These data provide compelling evidence for the formation of magnetic polarons in Eu5In2Sb6 well above the magnetic ordering temperature. More specifically, our results are consistent with anisotropic polarons with varying extent along the different crystallographic directions. A crossover revealed within the magnetically ordered phase can be associated with a surprising stabilization of ferromagnetic polarons within the global antiferromagnetic order upon decreasing temperature. These findings make Eu5In2Sb6 a rare example of such coexisting and competing magnetic orders and, importantly, shed new light on colossal magnetoresistive behavior beyond manganites. Materials exhibiting electronic inhomogeneities at the nanometer scale, such as magnetic polarons, have great potential for magnetoresistive applications. Here, thermal expansion and magnetostriction measurements on Eu5In2Sb6 single crystals reveal the formation of magnetic polarons well above the magnetic ordering temperature, providing insights on colossal magnetoresistive behavior beyond manganites.