Negative magnetoresistance in the antiferromagnetic semimetal V1/3TaS2

Intercalated transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) attract much attention due to their rich properties and potential applications. In this Letter, we grew successfully high-quality V$_{1/3}$TaS$_{2}$ crystals by a vapor transport method. We measured the magnetization, longitudinal resistivity $\rho_{xx}$($T, H$), Hall resistivity $\rho_{xy}$($T, H$), as well as performed calculations of the electronic band structure. It was found that V$_{1/3}$TaS$_{2}$ is an A-type antiferromagnet with the Neel temperature $T_{N}$ = 6.20 K, and exhibits a negative magnetoresistance (MR) near $T_{N}$. Both band structure calculations and Hall resistivity measurements demonstrate it to be a magnetic semimetal.