Coexistence of high electrical conductivity and weak ferromagnetism in Cr doped Y₂Ir₂O₇ pyrochlore iridate

We report the structural, magnetic and electrical transport properties of Y$_2$Ir$_{2-x}$Cr$_x$O$_7$ pyrochlore iridates. The chemical doping leads to order of magnitude enhancement of electrical conductivity. The introduction of Cr3+ at Ir4+ site tends to distort the Ir-O6 octahedra and suppresses antiferromagnetic correlation. The X-ray photoemission spectroscopy measurements suggest the coexistence of Ir4+ and Ir5+ valence states in the Y$_2$Ir$_{2-x}$Cr$_x$O$_7$ compounds. The concentration of Ir5+ is enhanced with Cr doping, leading to weak ferromagnetism and enhanced electrical conductivity. A cluster-glass like transition is also observed at low temperature with Cr doping, possibly due to competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interaction.